Don’t light fire to pray on train, Sabarimala-bound devotees told

SCR issues advisory; violation to attract three-year imprisonment, ₹1,000 fine

If you are blissfully sleeping while travelling by a long distance train and are suddenly awakened by the smell of burning camphor or incense sticks, would it scare you? Apparently, there have been instances of Sabarimala-bound Ayyappa Swamy devotees performing daily worship inside the train by lighting incense sticks, alarming travelling railway personnel.

This year, the South Central Railway (SCR) has issued a public advisory, urging devotees travelling in these pilgrim special trains to Kerala not to perform ‘aarti’ as part of ‘puja’ by burning camphor and lighting of match sticks/ incense sticks inside the coaches since carrying inflammable materials and lighting fire in any form in trains or other railway premises is strictly prohibited.

“Such acts pose grave threat to safety and may result in fire hazards endangering human lives and railway property too. These activities constitute a punishable offence, for which the offender is liable to be punished with imprisonment up to three years or a fine of ₹1,000 or both, besides being liable for the loss/ injury or damage caused,” said the official communique.