ord Ganesh has been boarding the Godavari Express every Ganpati for past seven years. Prior to this, for four years, He used to travel in the Panchavati Express. It has been just over a week since the Lord's journey began and during this period, hundreds of ardent devotees have come and paid obeisance.
But there is someone who has been travelling with Lord Ganesh, taking care of him and organising the rituals - 25-year-old Ashok Bihari. An orphan, Ashok has spent most of his life on this train - polishing the boots of the passengers travelling between Nashik and Manmad.
During the festival, Ashok (who we were told is a Brahmin by birth) is handed over the responsibility of taking care of the Ganesh idol by the Godavari Express Ganesh Mandal. And responsible he is - ensuring that nobody enters the sacred area with their shoes on and nobody leaves without taking prasad.
Image: A view of the decoration inside the compartment.
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