Patna: Patna’s railway passengers observing Navratri will have access to specially prepared ‘Sattvic’ meals on trains and at station catering stalls, the Railways announced on Thursday. The initiative, running from March 19 to 27, aims to accommodate devotees who fast during the festival by offering food prepared without garlic or onion.
According to railway officials, pantry cars on various trains passing through Patna Junction will serve meals in line with religious dietary practices. The menu includes traditional ‘Falahar’ dishes such as Aloo-Jeera (potatoes with cumin), Sabudana Khichdi, Sabudana Kheer, and buckwheat-based preparations, all cooked using rock salt (Sendha Namak). Breakfast options feature fruits such as bananas and apples.
The Sattvic menu is also available at station catering stalls, where staff have been instructed to maintain strict hygiene and adhere to prescribed cooking standards. Additional items include curd, Singhara (water chestnut) preparations, and other fasting-specific dishes. Signboards and information plaques have been installed within the station to help passengers locate the stalls easily.
The Railways has also introduced special thalis tailored for fasting passengers:
- Thali One: Fruits, pakoras, and yogurt
- Thali Two: Paratha, Sabudana Khichdi, and three types of vegetables
- Thali Three: Potato curry, two parathas, and Sabudana Kheer
- Thali Four: Potato and paneer paratha
Railway officials said the initiative is intended to make travel more convenient for devotees during the festival and to ensure that meals meet religious requirements without compromising on taste or variety.
