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This wedding will be right on track: The Hindustan Times
Kolkata, June 17: This is one marriage that`ll be on track. For the first time in India, a marriage will be solemnised on board a train. It`s no cattle class train - the bride`s family plans to hire the famous toy train which runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling.
Kolkata, June 17: This is one marriage that’ll be on track. For the first time in India, a marriage will be solemnised on board a train. It’s no cattle class train — the bride's family plans to hire the famous toy train which runs from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling.
The idea was mooted by the bride-to-be, Smita Agarwal, a self-confessed train lover. Her father, Nirmal Chand Agarwal, has already put in an application with the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) that runs the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, popularly known as the toy train. The groom's family from Kanpur has already given the green signal.
The bride's and groom's parties will board the train at New Jalpaiguri on November 22. The ceremony would be complete with Vedic rituals. "There'll be a total of about 85 people on board. We'd have liked to have more, but the toy train with its three coaches and a pantry car won’t be able to accommodate more," says Nirmal Agarwal. He hopes to get the NFR's approval soon.
That shouldn’t be a problem. “It's a very good idea," says NFR chief public relations officer Leena Sharma.
"We're going through the request and there seems to be no problem at all. We will just have to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place," says a senior railway official.
The train has many halts during which guests can disembark and watch the rites in the main carriage.
"We'll have our own catering arrangements. A multi-course vegetarian meal and snacks will be served during the journey," says Nirmal.
"It'll be a memorable experience to attend a wedding on a train that makes it's way slowly through the hills in the crisp winter," says Smita.
The journey will end at Darjeeling late that afternoon. "There'll be an overnight halt at Darjeeling and next day, we'll come back to Kolkata," says Nirmal Agarwal.
And for all those who were put on the RAC list, there will be a reception in Kolkata.
The idea was mooted by the bride-to-be, Smita Agarwal, a self-confessed train lover. Her father, Nirmal Chand Agarwal, has already put in an application with the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) that runs the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, popularly known as the toy train. The groom's family from Kanpur has already given the green signal.
The bride's and groom's parties will board the train at New Jalpaiguri on November 22. The ceremony would be complete with Vedic rituals. "There'll be a total of about 85 people on board. We'd have liked to have more, but the toy train with its three coaches and a pantry car won’t be able to accommodate more," says Nirmal Agarwal. He hopes to get the NFR's approval soon.
That shouldn’t be a problem. “It's a very good idea," says NFR chief public relations officer Leena Sharma.
"We're going through the request and there seems to be no problem at all. We will just have to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place," says a senior railway official.
The train has many halts during which guests can disembark and watch the rites in the main carriage.
"We'll have our own catering arrangements. A multi-course vegetarian meal and snacks will be served during the journey," says Nirmal.
"It'll be a memorable experience to attend a wedding on a train that makes it's way slowly through the hills in the crisp winter," says Smita.
The journey will end at Darjeeling late that afternoon. "There'll be an overnight halt at Darjeeling and next day, we'll come back to Kolkata," says Nirmal Agarwal.
And for all those who were put on the RAC list, there will be a reception in Kolkata.