New Delhi: The Indian Railways has withdrawn its order to change the dress of the serving waiters on the Ramayana Express train to saffron color following protests by saints in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain.
The sages had strongly objected to the saffron attire of the passengers on the IRCTC-run Ramayana Express, terming it an “insult” of Hinduism. On December 12, he had threatened to stop the train in Delhi if the dress code was not withdrawn.
“It is informed that the dress of the service staff has been completely replaced as the professional dress of the service staff. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
We have written a letter to the Union Railway Minister two days back registering our protest against the saffron waiters serving refreshments and food in Ramayana Express.
Awadheshpuri, former general secretary of Ujjain Akhara Parishad, told PTI, “Wearing saffron attire with a sage-like cap and wearing Rudraksh garland is an insult to Hinduism and its saints.”
He said that if the saffron dress code of the waiters is not changed, the saints will stop the train at Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station, which is necessary to protect the Hindu religion.
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), retweeting a media outlet running this agency’s report, said that it is to inform that the dress of the service staff has been completely replaced as the professional dress of the service staff.
Responding to IRCTC’s announcement about the change in dress, a delighted Awadeshpuri said, “It is a victory of (Hindu) dharma and ‘sanskriti (culture)’ and it was their duty to raise the issue.
The city of Ujjain, where the famous Shri Mahakaleshwar temple of Lord Shiva is located, organizes the Simhastha Kumbh Mela every 12 years.
The country’s first Ramayana circuit train departed from Safdarjung railway station on 7 November on a 17-day journey and will visit 15 places related to the life of Lord Rama.
Covering a distance of over 7,500 km, the train will take pilgrims to places like Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Nandigram, Janakpur, Chitrakoot, Sitamarhi, Nashik, Hampi and Rameswaram.
The Ramayana Express is equipped with a first class restaurant, a library and a shower cubicle.
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