Railways to launch Ramayana Yatra Express
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Railways will run a Shri Ramayana Yatra Express from Madurai in Tamil Nadu on November 14 on the Ramayana circuit to cover the major spots related to the Hindu epic, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Indian Rail Tourism and Catering Corp (IRCTC) said the 800-seater train will depart Madurai and complete its journey at Rameswaram, also in Tamil Nadu, in 15 days.
"The train will cover all important destinations associated with the life of Lord Shri Ram in a 16-day all inclusive tour package," it said. This will be spread in India and Sri Lanka.
The package will cover all meals, accommodation and wash and change facilities in dharmashalas, all transfers, sight-seeing arrangements and dedicated tour manager of IRCTC who will travel with the tourists.
The pilgrimage will have two components - one each in India and Sri Lanka.
The Shri Ramayana Yatra Express departing from Madurai will have several boarding stations including Dindigul, Karur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpet, Katpadi, Chennai Central and Renigunta with the first stopover being at Hospet to visit the Ramayana sites of Kishkindha Kandam.
"Further the train will proceed to Nasik Road for visiting the temples at Panchavati (Aranya Kandam), followed by Chitrakoot Dham (Ayodhya Kandam), Darbhanga (Bala Kandam), Sita Marhi, Janakpur (Nepal), Ayodhya and Nandigram (Ayodhya Kandam), Allahabad and Shringvernpur (Aranya Kandam) and Rameshwaram," it said.
The Sri Lanka leg has been planned prior to the train journey with departure from Chennai on November 2. Tne tour will be charged separately.
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Himachal’s Sammoo village does not celebrate Diwali due to centuries-old 'curse’; Here’s why
Hamirpur: The residents of Sammoo village in Hamirpur district located in Himachal Pradesh are continuing a centuries-old tradition of not celebrating Diwali. No houses are lit during the festival, no special dishes are prepared, and no sounds of crackers are heard.
This is an ancient custom that people have been following for ages due to the fear of a curse from a woman who committed Sati on Diwali, according to a PTI report.
The legend goes that, many years ago, the woman who had left for her parent's home to celebrate Diwali received news that her husband, a soldier in the king's court, had died. The woman, who was pregnant, was devastated and burnt herself on her husband's pyre. It is believed she cursed the villagers, declaring that they would never again be able to celebrate Diwali.
As a result, the village has not celebrated the festival since, with elders reportedly warning younger generations that celebrations would invite misfortune, disaster, and deaths.
Bhoranj panchayat pradhan Pooja Devi stated that since she got married and moved to this village, she has never witnessed Diwali being celebrated. “Even if the villagers settle outside, the curse of the women won’t leave them. Some years ago, a family from the village settled far away were preparing some local dishes for Diwali when their house caught fire. The people of the village only worship Sati and light diyas in front of her,” Pooja Devi was quoted as saying by the news agency.
The report also cited another village elder, who has lived through more than 70 Diwalis without celebration, mentioning that whenever someone attempts to celebrate, tragedy strikes the village.
“For hundreds of years, people have refrained from celebrating Diwali. On the day of Diwali, if a family, even by mistake, bursts crackers and makes dishes at home, then disaster is sure to happen,” the report quoted another villager.
The people in the village have tried a lot of measures, such as havans and yagyas, to get rid of the curse. However, nothing has reportedly worked.
