Northern Railway says puja on moving train was held in privately‑booked saloon coach

A video showing a priest performing a puja inside a moving Indian train went viral on social media, prompting questions about whether religious ceremonies are allowed on railway coaches. Northern Railway clarified that the ceremony did not take place in a regular passenger carriage but in a privately chartered saloon car attached to Train No. 12926 Paschim Express on its one‑way run from New Delhi to Mumbai on 10 July 2026. The saloon coach was booked through IRCTC on 8 July 2026 for an advance payment of ₹3,08,580. Saloon cars are luxury VIP coaches equipped with bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area and attached bathrooms, and can be hired for private events under commercial terms. The railway said the booking required only routine operational clearance, not special ministerial approval, and that safety, punctuality and passenger security were not compromised; no injuries were reported.

The clarification addresses the public debate about the adequacy of railway rules for private events and confirms that the puja was a lawful activity inside a privately reserved compartment, not a breach of public railway policy.