As the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh gear up for Chhath Puja, one of the most revered festivals dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) and Chhathi Maiya, Indian Railways has joined the celebrations in a unique way. To spread festive cheer among travellers, stations across the region will play soulful Chhath songs, creating an atmosphere of devotion and nostalgia for passengers returning home.
In an official statement released, Indian Railways announced that this initiative aims to connect passengers emotionally with the auspicious festival and make their travel experience more pleasant and culturally enriching. The songs will be played at key railway stations including Patna, Danapur, Hajipur, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Sonpur, New Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Anand Vihar Terminal.
To manage the massive surge of passengers during the festive season, Indian Railways has launched an unprecedented operation of over 12,000 special trains across India. These trains are aimed at providing smooth and comfortable journeys to devotees heading to their hometowns for Chhath celebrations.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw personally reviewed the passenger management system at the Railway Board’s War Room, ensuring that all safety and convenience measures were in place.
Railways have also established holding areas at key junctions such as New Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, Udhna, Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, equipped with essential passenger amenities like drinking water, food stalls, seating, and restrooms to handle the increased footfall.
At Delhi’s Anand Vihar railway terminal, the ministry has implemented extra waiting rooms, additional help desks, and crowd-control arrangements to facilitate travellers heading to Bihar and Purvanchal. Visuals shared by ANI show large waiting areas set up with volunteers assisting passengers to board their respective trains without confusion or chaos.
In view of the heavy passenger traffic and long waiting hours, the Indian Railways has also prioritised passenger health and safety. 24×7 medical booths have been set up at Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, and Saharsa, equipped with ambulances and fire brigade services on standby. These facilities are aimed at providing immediate health assistance to travellers in need.
The initiative to play Chhath songs at railway stations reflects the government’s effort to blend tradition with travel. The familiar tunes, like “Chhathi Maiya Aayi Na Duriya” are expected to strike an emotional chord with passengers, many of whom travel long distances to reunite with their families for the festival.
