Pilgrim’s progress on Shan-e-Khalsa

Pilgrim’s progress on Shan-e-Khalsa
Passengers on board the luxury Sikh pilgrimage train visit Damdama Sahib
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 1
The luxury Sikh pilgrimage train-the Shan-e-Khalsa — which is covering the five Takhts (temporal seats) of the Sikhs in eight days and nine nights' trip, received a rousing reception at the Bathinda railway station, this evening.

The visitors went to the Takht Shri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda to pay obeisance; A view of the bar inside the luxury train; DC Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and SSP SS Gill take a look at the interiors of the train. Tribune photos: Pawan Sharma

The pilgrims on board the train were offered garlands and welcomed with religious music at the platform, after which, they boarded two air-conditioned Volvo buses to reach the Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo in this district.
Before leaving for the Takht Damdama Sahib, the CEO of The Luxury Trains, a tour promoter company which organized the trip, Sajivve Trehaan said, "Immediately after paying obeisance at the Takht Sahib, we will come back to the railway station here and board the train for Agra."
It was a festival like situation at the railway station as hundreds of people were waiting to have a glimpse of the luxury train. Besides a number of dignitaries, including the senior leaders of the SGPC, the SAD (B) and the Congress, a battery of district officials, who had to welcome the pilgrims, were also seen waiting for the train for at least two hours.
As the train chugged in, people started chanting slogans "Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh". Punjab tourism minister, Hira Singh Gabria and other politicians like Surjit Singh Rakhra and Ashwani Sekhri were also on board among the total 88 pilgrims, including 70 NRIs and three foreigners.
Excitement among the crowd was quite visible as they were witnessed jostling to get photographs clicked with the pilgrims getting down from the train. However, the tight security arrangements shattered their dream to enjoy an inside view the train as only the senior bureaucrats and some media persons were allowed to do so.
All 21 bogeys of the star-rated facilities equipped train-the Deccan Odyssey-- a chartered train, which belongs to the Maharshtra government- were carrying plates addressing the train as Shan-e-Khalsa and the trip as Deedar-e-Takht.
"It is for the first time that I have been on pilgrimage so I am excited. I am capturing photographs of all places we are visiting, as my friends, who could not accompany me, desired to see all these places," said Hannah of the United States.
Replying to a query, another pilgrim, Debra of the US said, "The journey is very comfortable and I am satisfied with the arrangements." However, she mentioned that the fare was a bit on the higher side and said, "Had it been a bit less, some more could have availed the opportunity of visiting the high shrines of the Sikh religion."
Punjab Tourism Minister, Hira Singh Gabria said, "The fare which is Rs 2.10 lakh could have been reduced to half, had the union government exempted the taxes, which are somewhere around Rs 70 lakh."
"About four years ago, the Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal had floated a proposal to the union government for a similar trip and even deposited the state's share but the union government did not respond," he mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Akali leader Surjit Singh Rakhra and the Congress leader Ashwani Sekhri also termed the fare was beyond the reach of the common man but expressed satisfaction with the services being provided in the train.
On the other hand, Jathedar of the Takht Damdama Sahib, Balwant Singh Nandgarh strongly demanded that the union government must connect Talwandi Sabo with rail link as it would help the devotees to reach the Takht Sahib to pay obeisance.