Even as devotees are flocking mandals to offer prayers to Lord Ganesh, railways has done its bit to ensure that passengers are able to worship the deity on train.

Every year passengers of Godavari Express, called the lifeline of Manmad-Nasik, install a Ganesh idol on the train that is kept for the entire 10-day period. Naeem Sheikh, a businessman is among those responsible for looking after the deity.

“For 25 years I have been travelling daily from Manmad to Kurla by Godavari Express. Twenty years ago Meer Kasim, a daily passenger, brought Ganpati to this coach. Initially he looked after it himself but afterwards other passengers took over the responsibility,” he says.

The passengers say their daily prayer at a fixed time everyday. In the morning, prayer is conducted when the train halts at Manmad. In the evening, it is conducted at Nasik. A RPF and a GRP man keep vigil throughout the day. “It is the mercy of Bappa that this train always runs on time. There is no record of any accident or any unpleasant incident on this train,” Naeem says.

At other railway stations too Ganpati idols have been installed. JH Khan, Station Manager of Malad station has been organising the Ganesh festival at the station for 25 years. “I have great faith in Siddhi Vinayak. I used to visit Siddhi Vinayak Mandir at Dadar. Later I thought of bringing it to my workplace.”

Apart from the railway staff, porters also bring Ganpati idols to the station. At CST, a Ganpati idol is placed opposite GRO police station every year with a five-and-half feet idol brought from Jhhabawadi, Chira Bazar.

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