NEW DELHI: The Central Railway has announced its plans to operate 156 Ganpati Special trains in September 2023, coinciding with the Ganpati festival. In a statement released on Monday, the Central Railway informed that the bookings for these special trains will commence on June 27.

Ganpati Festival: The Ganpati festival holds immense significance and is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. Devotees come together to honor Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity, seeking his blessings for prosperity and good fortune. The festival, spanning over several days, witnesses grand processions, vibrant decorations, and lively cultural events.

To facilitate smooth travel for devotees during this auspicious period, the Railways has introduced 156 Ganpati Special trains. These trains will offer additional travel options and help accommodate the increased passenger demand. The initiative aims to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free journey for all those undertaking pilgrimage during the festival.

Jagannath Rath Yatra Special Trains: In addition to the Ganpati Special trains, the Railways had previously announced the operation of 857 special trains for the Jagannath Rath Yatra. The yatra, attracting approximately 20 lakh pilgrims, is a significant event in the city of Puri, Odisha. The Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, assured that all necessary arrangements have been made at the Puri station to accommodate the influx of devotees.

The Puri Rath Yatra, scheduled from June 20 to June 28, 2023, witnesses millions of devotees coming together to witness the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, accompanied by his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The yatra involves pulling elaborately decorated chariots through the streets of Puri, signifying the journey of the deities from the temple to the Gundicha Temple.

To cater to the needs of pilgrims visiting Puri during the nine-day festival, the East Coast Railway has introduced Rath Yatra Special trains. These trains will operate until June 30, providing convenient transportation options for passengers. The special trains will originate from various towns in Odisha, as well as neighboring states such as Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The East Coast Railway has organized special trains from multiple locations to ensure smooth connectivity to Puri. Passengers can board these trains from cities including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Paradip, Gunupur, Sambalpur, Jagdalpur, Rourkela, and Angul in Odisha, as well as from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

For the convenience of passengers traveling from Visakhapatnam to Puri, a special train with the number 08901 has been arranged. This train will depart from Visakhapatnam at 2:30 PM on June 19 and 27, reaching Puri at 1:15 AM the following day. On the return journey, the Puri-Visakhapatnam train, numbered 08902, will leave Puri at 10:55 PM on June 20 and 28,

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