Ramayan Express saffron dress code taken back by Indian Railways after strong objection

The seers had threatened to stop the train in Delhi on December 12 if the dress code was not withdrawn.

Image: Twitter/ANI

The Indian Railways has back the newly decided saffron dress code of the staff onboard the Ramayan Express after strong protests by seers. The protesting group believed that the staff of the train serving the passengers shouldn’t be wearing saffron.

ANI quoted Indian Railways saying, “Dress of service staff is completely changed in the look of professional attire of service staff. Inconvenience caused is regretted.”

Earlier, the IRCTC on Monday evening said it will change the saffron attire of waiters on board the Ramayan Express, which had invited the ire of a section of sadhus.

The seers had taken strong objection to the saffron attire of waiters on board the IRCTC-operated Ramayan Express and dubbed it as an "insult" to Hindu religion.

Indian Railways withdraws saffron attire of its serving staff on board the Ramayana Special Trains following objections

"Dress of service staff is completely changed in the look of professional attire of service staff. Inconvenience caused is regretted," says the Railways pic.twitter.com/ANsqHUQQzU — ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2021

They had threatened to stop the train in Delhi on December 12 if the dress code was not withdrawn.

“We have written a letter two days back to the Union Railway Minister lodging our protest against waiters in saffron serving refreshments and food in the Ramayan Express. Donning saffron attire with sadhu-like headgear and wearing 'malas' (necklaces) of 'rudraksha' (sacred seeds) is an insult to Hindu religion and its seers,” Ujjain Akhada Parishad's former general secretary Avdeshpuri told PTI.

He said seers will stop the train at Delhi's Safdarjung railway station if the saffron dress code of the waiters was not changed, adding it was necessary for protecting the Hindu religion.

The country's first Ramayan circuit train chugged off on a 17-day journey from the Safdarjung railway station on November 7, and will visit 15 places associated with the life of Lord Ram.

Covering a distance of more than 7,500 km, the train will take the pilgrims to places such as Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Nandigram, Janakpur, Chitrakoot, Sitamarhi, Nashik, Hampi and Rameshwaram.

The Ramayan Express is equipped with first-class restaurants, a library and shower cubicles.

(With inputs from agencies)