Passengers at the Jan Ahaar facility on platform number 1 at Patna Junction. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Oct. 28: The biggest festival of the state, Chhath, is around the bend and Indian Railways is pulling out all stops to facilitate the devotees. For, the Indian Railways has taken the decision to serve special food to the devotees on board trains and at platforms.

Union railway minister Dinesh Trivedi yesterday passed the decision that the railway will serve food prepared without garlic and ginger to Chhath devotees on trains and at food plazas and stalls at platforms under East Central Railway. Sources said Indian Railways took the decision realising the importance of Chhath.

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food will also be prepared and served separately.

The plan has been introduced on 22 trains under East Central Railway. The directive passed specially for the Chhath devotees will be in place till November 2,the official said.

A senior railway officer told The Telegraph: “The railway minister has given strict instructions to the catering department of the Indian Railways to maintain sanctity of the festival. Food will be prepared separately for the devotees on 22 trains, including Rajdhani Express, Sampoorn Kranti Express, Gaya-Chennai Express, Archana Express, Magadh Express, Barauni-Ernakulam Express.”

The officer added: “The decision has been taken yesterday and I am proud to say that within such a short notice period, the catering department has already implemented the plan at various food stalls. This is the first time such a step has been taken by the Indian Railways because of the importance and devotion attached with the festival.”

At Patna Junction’s Jan Ahaar facility on platform number one, devotees are getting the food prepared separately for them. The passengers are naturally thrilled.

Aditya Raj, a passenger at Jan Ahaar, said: “This directive is a relief for people like us who always face problem with food on journey during Chhath. During the festival, we don’t have food prepared with garlic and onion and if we get such food at the railway station, what can be better?”

Abhishek Kumar, another devotee, said: “It is hard to believe that the railway is not mixing the food together and maintaining the purity of the festival. If it really happens, it is great. I thank the Indian Railways for making arrangements keeping the sentiment of the devotees in mind.”

On the trains, the pantry car employees have been warned not to cook vegetarian and non-vegetarian food together. “Two separate spaces have been earmarked in the pantry car. The food will also be served separately. If passengers find any problem from our side, they can submit a complaint to the head of the pantry car,” said Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) regional manager, Patna, Anand Kumar Jha. IRCTC is responsible to execute the decision of the Indian Railways.

Manager of Jan Ahaar Mithlesh Kumar told The Telegraph: “We are taking special care of the food that is being prepared for the devotees.”