In just days after a video of a train coach that was decorated like a honeymoon suite made waves on social media, another video from Indian Railways has gone viral. But this time it is a religious ceremony inside a train compartment, which has also generated lots of debate online and has even led to an official response from Northern Railways.
The viral video shows a priest performing Hindu rituals inside a well-furnished train coach. Several people in white appeared to be sitting cross-legged and participating in the puja, while the compartment seemed to have been equipped with sofas, ceremonial items and other arrangements usually seen during religious functions.
As the clip spread on social media platforms, many users questioned whether such religious ceremonies were allowed inside moving trains. Some also expressed concerns about passenger safety, security and whether the event could have inconvenienced fellow travellers.
Based on the growing conjecture, Northern Railways issued an official clarification that the ceremony did not take place in a regular passenger coach. Instead, the rituals occurred in a private saloon car which was hired through the official IRCTC booking system.
According to Railways, the customer paid about ₹3.08 lakh to reserve the saloon coach for a one-way journey from New Delhi to Mumbai. The luxury coach was attached to Train No. 12926 Paschim Express on July 10, 2026, after receiving the necessary operational approval.
Railway officials said all the booking was commercial and in accordance with current rules for saloon cars. The event did not affect the safety, punctuality or convenience of other passengers travelling on the train, they added.
Northern Railways emphasized that passenger safety and smooth train service remain its top priority. No one was injured during the journey, and the priest who carried out the rituals was making it inside a private saloon coach.
The incident has also raised the profile of India’s little-known railway saloon coaches. These are the luxury coaches for senior railway officials, dignitaries and private passengers who want a unique rail travel experience. Unlike train compartments, saloon cars are equipped with air-conditioned bedrooms, a living and dining area, kitchenette, attached washrooms and other luxury features for a moving private suite.
The clarification comes at a time when public interest in the use of such luxury coaches is rising after the earlier "honeymoon coach" video generated an explosion of online discussion. While the videos for both appeared to be taking place in ordinary passenger compartments in both instances, Railways have now said the events were actually in private saloon cars under commercial arrangements.
The viral videos have, however, generated a larger conversation on social media about Indian Railways’ unique services and the growing popularity of luxury train travel experiences beyond conventional passenger coaches.
