Footage of a priest conducting a religious ceremony inside a train in India has sparked controversy on social media. The railway company clarified, however, that the ritual did not take place in a regular passenger railcar, but in a sleeper railcar that had been entirely reserved by a private group.
A video filmed on an Indian train went viral after several people were seen participating in a puja, a Hindu religious ceremony.
In the footage, a priest sits on the floor of the railcar and officiates the ritual, surrounded by several participants dressed predominantly in white. The video sparked discussions about the rules governing religious observances aboard passenger trains.
It Was Not a Regular Railcar
After the images went viral, Northern Railway, the regional administration of the Indian Railways that serves the northern part of the country, issued a clarification.
After a honeymoon car, now worship rituals in a saloon car of Indian Railways. Indian Railways is turning into a circus. pic.twitter.com/5UwZIJAdGb
— VIZHPUNEET (@vizhpuneet) July 12, 2026
According to the company, the ceremony did not take place in a railcar accessible to regular passengers, but in a salon railcar fully reserved by a private group through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the public company responsible for tourism services, reservations, and onboard catering.
The railcar had been commercially booked for a trip between New Delhi and Mumbai and was attached to the Paschim Express train.
Sleeping quarters, kitchen, and private lounge
Salon railcars are rail vehicles designed for private travel and have traditionally been used by high-ranking officials and VIPs.
They may include air-conditioned sleeping quarters, a kitchen, a lounge, a dining area, and private restrooms. Currently, some such railcars can be commercially chartered by private groups, subject to availability.
Northern Railway stated that the reservation had been made for July 10, for a one-way trip from New Delhi Station to the Bandra terminal in Mumbai.
Over 300,000 rupees for the trip
The group paid 308,580 Indian rupees (over EUR 2,800) in advance to reserve the salon railcar.
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