Tirth Yatra train returns to a warm welcome

PATIALA:Tirth Yatra train from Patiala to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib Nanded which was flagged off on January 15 morning received a warm reception when it returned here this afternoon

Updated At : 07:29 AM Jan 21, 2016 IST

Devotees at the Patiala railway station after the completion of their five-day journey to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, by the Tirth Yatra train on Wednesday.

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 20

Tirth Yatra train from Patiala to Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, which was flagged off on January 15 morning, received a warm reception when it returned here this afternoon.

The pilgrims were in high spirits on the completion of the journey and the chants of “Jo Bole So Nihaal, Sat Shri Akal” warmed up the usually dull atmosphere of the railway station.

A total of 1,000 pilgrims, including Punjab Higher Education Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, had undertaken this five-day train journey under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojana, which culminated with great pomp and show. All senior officials of the district administration, including Patiala Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam, SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and SDM Gurpal Singh Chahal, and senior SAD-BJP leaders, welcomed the pilgrims.

The joy of the pilgrims knew no bounds with the people warmly thanking the state government for this initiative claiming that it was one of the best journeys of their lives.

Sixty-five-year-old Kuldeep Kaur from Tohra village said meals being provided in the train were of top-class quality and prepared in hygienic conditions.

“Apart from three meals, we were served fruits, juices and flavoured milk. I will always cherish the memories of this journey. I am extremely thankful to the state government for this initiative,” she said.

Surinder Singh from Dakala (55) said: “The stay at Nanded Sahib was also well coordinated and we had a remarkable journey”.

“The government had even deputed doctors to assist the passengers in case of medical emergency. Though there was no serious crisis, many passengers who suffered seasonal allergies, diarrhoea and vomiting, etc, were provided free medical assistance on the train itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rakhra on reaching the city thanked the state government for this noble gesture. He claimed that the government had fulfilled a long-pending desire of the people to start a direct train to the religious gurdwaras. “We are considering starting many more trains to facilitate people,” Rakhra said.