Varanasi, Feb 17: For the first time, the Indian Railways has reserved a seat for a deity on a train. The national transporter, which launched its third IRCTC operated train named Kashi Mahakal Express from Varanasi to Indore, has reserved a seat for Lord Mahakal (Lord Shiva) on board.
Speaking to media, Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar said: "It is for the first time that a seat has been left reserved for a deity."
"One seat in Kashi Mahakal Express (seat number 64 in B5 coach) has been left reserved for Lord Shiva," he said.
"Even a temple has been drawn on the seat to make people aware that the seat is reserved for Lord Mahakal," he said.
IRCTC's Director, Tourism, Rajni Hasija said that the practice would continue beyond the inaugural run.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Kashi Mahakal Express via video conferencing from Varanasi, where he is all launched several projects worth Rs 1,250 crore during the day's visit to his parliamentary constituency.
The third IRCTC train, after the two Tejas Express trains on New Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad routes, the Kashi Mahakal Express will connect three places -- Jyotirlinga-Omkareshwar (near Indore), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi Vishwanath (at Varanasi).
Also connecting the industrial and educational hub of Indore, with Bhopal, the train will begin its commercial run from February 20.
"The Kashi Mahakal Express will operate three days in a week and it will be a bi-weekly service through the Sultanpur-Lucknow route and a weekly service via the Prayagraj route," Kumar said.
Elaborating on the two routes from which the train will pass every week, Hasija said: "Once the new train starts its regular run from this week, it will depart from Varanasi at 2.45 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday to reach Indore at 9.40 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
Similarly, the train will start from Indore at 10.55 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday and will reach Varanasi at 6.00 a.m. the next day. This train will have stoppages at Ujjain, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur and Sultanpur stations in both directions.
Meanwhile, in the weekly service via Prayagraj route, the Kashi Mahakal Express will depart from Varanasi at 3.15 p.m. every Sunday to reach Indore at 9.40 a.m. the next day. On the other way, it will depart from Indore at 10.55 a.m. every Monday and reach Varanasi at 5 a.m. the next day.
"This train will halt at Ujjain, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur and Allahabad stations in both directions," Kumar said.
Explaining the fares of the Kashi Mahakal Express, Hasija said, "Kashi Mahakal Express will follow a dynamic fare structure like the other two Tejas Express trains."
One-way journey from Varnasi to Indore will cost Rs 1,951, inclusive of four meals.
According to the IRCTC officials, the Indore-Varanasi Kashi Mahakal Express will be the first private train that will run overnight and for a comfortable long distance journey, will feature a host of facilities. The IRCTC will serve vegetarian food, and provide housekeeping services, on-board security services and bedrolls.
The IRCTC officials said that passengers will also get complementary insurance of Rs 10 lakh.
The train will have an advance reservation period of 120 days and will only have the general and foreign tourist quotas. The current booking will be available to the passengers on the platform itself after preparation of first chart, four hours to five minutes before the scheduled departure of the train.
To facilitate travel for pilgrims, the IRCTC is also introducing special tour packages for passengers who want to see the pilgrim centres enroute. The tour options are; Mahakal Darshan (Ujjain - Omkareshwar), Bhopal-Sanchi-Bhimbetka, Malwa Jyotrilinga Darshan (Ujjain-Omkareshwar- Maheshwar- Indore) and Bhopal-Sanchi-Bhimbetka-Ujjain. Other tour options include Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayag; Kashi Darshan; Kashi, Prayag, Ayodhya; Kashi and Prayag and only Kashi.
The train has silent features like CCTV cameras, which will be monitored online around the clock from the IRCTC centres, whereas for the first time the IRCTC has brought the marshals in the train for passengers safety and also to make people aware to not smoke inside the train as it has smoke and heat sensors installed in the coaches as well as in the bathroom. For the blind passengers, the train coaches have the seat numbers written in Braille, and the catering staff will be dressed in yellow kurta-pyjamas with a rudraksh malas on their necks to promote the train's theme.
Comments
Islam is very simple religion which is based on oneness of Allah. Khulafa-Ur-Rashidun's, Sahaba's, Tabi'uns not took long time to understand the Islam and their emaan was very strong. But still after 1400 years, we are unable to understand the simple teaching of oneness of Allah.
Undu Yereg aw ye Kiri Kiri, E Bhoomi, Aakaasha, Iddi lokan shrishti malthina creator na Pooje/Araadhane Malpulle marre... Ragaaaale ijji...
Someone is sitting there and laughing and making money in the name of?????? shirk! Most of those poor people go and pray there with the intention of becoming rich or get promotion or salary hike or getting cure from diseases etc....this is really a nonsense.....nothing like that kind of thing will happen because of their visit...dead man cannot solve your problem....
Here it is mentioned some farmers came here and prayed for rain and it rained on their way back.
Point to note here that only Allah can shower rain, and also for these farmers Allah showered the rain. But a VERY VERY CRITICAL AND PEAK POINT is that it may be the test from Allah to these farmers that after he showers rain whether they are going to trust this Dargah or Allah. At this point if someone puts his trust on the Dargah instead of Allah then he has lost his imaan then and there itself. A very dangerous test where most people fail. And most muslims who visit such places for any benefit or blessings are the ones who no more trust Allah.
May Allah save us from such situations and trials of life.
At any situations put your trust only on Allah and ask with him. He will answer.
The Organiser says (6th para) in the article.. which contradicts, Please read & PONDER on below verse from the QURAN
ALLAH SAYS IN QURAN:
Quran 6:99 - And it is ALLAH who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which WE produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees - of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And We produce gardens of grapevines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at (each of) its fruits when it yields and (at) its ripening. Indeed in that are SIGNS for a PEOPLE who BELIEVE.
So ask with ALLAH ALONE dont associate Partners with HIM. ALLAH is able to do all things. TRUST him.
I read the above statement in which it says that the Three bodies flown from west to east of Brothers And Sister My question is
How did they know that the Bodies is of Brothers And Sister?
Were they a Muslim?
If they were a saint why the people of their Community allowed them to flow in the river?
If they had a divine power then why they themselves could not rescue from floating in the river?
@ Anjali,
Certainly, your question can be answered if you search in youtube from Dr. Zakir Naik or other speakers. But Dr. Zakir Naik is recommended because he has been asked several questions of similar kind.
Hope it is clear.
Here the main intention is money making. some illiterate are going to there (our ulema (religion scholar) does not stop them because of they are scared they might be going to loose their earning. the one which buried there for them no address, no name nothing.. May Allah save us this kind of Jahiliyath
Dear All
we don't want to learn Islam from your side Alhamdulillah we have better Ulama to learn what is shirk and what is reverence.
if i am not wrong particular category discussing more about jaatre and vedas instead of Quran
Abdul Rahman Muscat you are very near to SALALAH for Hazrat Ayub Alehisalam And please don't ask who is this, for that you have to read Quran if you can or else even you can visit Madina Also.
Nauzubillah!!! What is this dear brothers and sisters??
Yaa Allah make us among those who pratice Rasool's (SAW) sunnah & stay away from these innovations & shirks - AMEEN ya Rabbal Alameen
@Anjali,
First of all islamic laws are same from east to west and north to south, No difference!
What you seing here people/women are going NOT to pray to the true god \Allah - the only creator\". they are going to pray to human bein
Nauzubillah!!! what is this dear brothers and sisters in islam???
Who's body is in the Grave?
Did prophet Muhammad pbuh did such rituals?
Did the 4 Khulafas did such rituals?
Did the sahabas did such rituals?
Did taba u tabieen did such rituals?
We will never find this rituals done by these pious, Instead of looking at the examples of our role models. WE are blindly believing in the modern discription of grave visit...
Prophet Muhammad pbuh after knowing the sahabas strong belief in ALLAH & dependence in ALLAH, He allowed them to visit the grave to pray for the dead & for remembering our fate will be same as them.
Here WE are asking with the GRAVE and thinking ALLAH will give barakah if we ask in such places...
Please my muslim ummah - ALLAH is all hearing & all seeing . Dont limit his mercy in such places. He listens and answers even if U call ANYWHERE... HAVE FAITH in ALLAH.
and ASK ALLAH ALONE & follow the pious role models which will bring CONTENT in our LIFE.
May ALLAH keep us away from such ritual.
There is No place for \Darga\" or \"Durga\" in Islam, All people involved in this including contribution to this in any means has to go through severest punishments on the day of judgment for supporting or giving the place of the only creator “Allah” to others as such."
Hello Anjali sister dont look at what is happening here just study the quran & Hadis what is saying thats all and these all are following other religions culture
Coastal digest encouraging shirk!
Yaarado duddu yellammana Jaatre....
Why our muslim brothers cannot understand what is Islam... Please stay away from Shirk... May Allah Save us...
I'm a Medical student from calicut Medical College.My name is Anjali Kundan from Mumbai.Being a student i have even made a attempt to know more about Islaam.Being a student of Science i admire from my heart that Quran is a word of God.Because what Modern Science says today has been recorded 1000 years ago in Quran.But certain questions still strikes me one among them is regarding the above report.
The above photo shows that a Muslim women going to Mosque to pray then why some groups of Muslim scholars oppose women going to Mosque to pray in Kerala.Does the rules Differ from one place to another.What does Islam teaches regarding this.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon.. May Allah Guide us from all forms of SHIRK & INNOVATIONS and grant us UNDERSTANDING.
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