A video of the Rudrabhishek Puja in a chartered Indian Railways saloon coach has gone viral on social media for several days, sparking a heated debate over railway regulations, safety norms, and the use of luxury railway coaches for private events.
The viral footage shows three men performing the Hindu ritual in a railway saloon coach, using traditional puja items, including pots filled with water and other offerings. The exclusive coaches are premium units owned by Indian Railways and are available for private charter at a high cost. These are “moving hotels” with bedrooms, lounges, dining areas, and other luxury items, and are typically booked by senior officials or rich individuals for private travel.
The controversy started when fact checker Mohammed Zubair shared the video on social media and tagged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Zubair questioned whether such rituals that involved loose containers, water, and ceremonial objects were safe while the train was moving. These objects could become hazardous if the train stopped suddenly or if unexpected movement happened.
Several social media users claimed that the people in the video were associated with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's staff. However, these claims have not been officially confirmed, and neither Indian Railways nor the Uttar Pradesh government has confirmed the identities of those who are seen in the coach.
The video has received mixed reactions online. Critics claim Indian Railways should be able to explain if religious ceremonies inside chartered railway coaches are in line with railway rules. Other participants also questioned whether safety was followed in the ritual.
Hello @AshwiniVaishnaw, was this approved by @RailMinIndia? If so, What is the procedure? pic.twitter.com/9VUJP53lJQ
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 12, 2026
Others have pointed at the inconsistent public response. They compared the incident to past controversies involving people offering namaz in shared public spaces or reports of an unauthorized honeymoon setup in a railway coach. If those incidents drew criticism, such standards should be applied in this case as well.
The ritual supporters defend the ceremony, saying that it occurred in a private coach (not in a regular passenger compartment). They say the coach was booked to be used for the private side of the ceremony and not for the rest of the world, so there is no inconvenience for other passengers. And they say that those luxury coaches are often used for personal meetings, celebrations, or official travel, so that private worship is a private matter, as long as railway safety is not violated.
The Indian Railways has not yet made a public statement on the viral video or provided an official statement on whether religious rituals inside chartered saloon coaches are allowed or prohibited under current railway rules and regulations.
The incident has once again opened up a debate about the balance between personal freedom, public safety, and the appropriate use of government-owned infrastructure.
