Indian Railways Withdraw 'Saffron Attire' For Ramayan Express Waiters After Ujjain Seers' Objection

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 the Hindu religion.

Ramayan Express service staff attire changed (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The Indian Railways has withdrawn its order to change the attire of the waiters serving in the Ramayan Express train to saffron colour after a protest by seers in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.

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 They had threatened to stop the train in Delhi on December 12 if the dress code was not withdrawn.

“It is to inform that the dress of service staff is completely changed in the look of professional attire of service staff. Inconvenience caused is regretted," the Indian Railways said in a statement. The uniforms have been changed to normal shirts and trousers and traditional headgear. The waiters will, however, wear saffron masks and gloves, reported PTI.

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 Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), in a retweet to a media outlet that ran this agency report, said It is to inform that the dress of service staff is completely changed in the look of professional attire of service staff.

In response to the IRCTC announcement about the change in attire, a delighted Avdeshpuri said, "It is a victory of (Hindu) religion and 'Sanskriti (culture)" and that it was his duty to raise the issue.

Ujjain city, where the famous Shree Mahakaleshwar temple of Lord Shiva is located, hosts Simhastha Kumbh Mela every 12 years.

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.