Railways launch user-friendly tickets for Kumbh devotees

The Indian Railways have introduced train tickets with symbols denoting directions of trains. The limited edition tickets are primarily to help millions of devotees heading to Allahabad, for the Ardh Kumbh. Symbols like weighing scale, boat, tiger and horse, which can easily be identified by a large majority of illiterate people, have been printed on the reverse of tickets to enable them board the desired trains or de-board their destinations. "The signs have been made in a way so that a common man or a less educated man can understand them. Picture of the things which can be easily recognised by the common man has been used in the tickets," said Ravi Prakash Chaturvedi, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Varanasi, North-eastern Railway. The Railways have also introduced colour code to indicate the platforms for departing trains.

But passengers say although it is a good move, the railways have not made adequate publicity of such changes. "It is a good thing because uneducated people can benefit from it. But the railway is not advertising it properly so not many people are aware of it," said Rahul, a passenger. About 70 million Hindus are expected to converge in Allahabad over the next few weeks for a dip in the holy Ganges River for the ongoing Ardh-Kumbh. The event called the "Ardh Kumbh Mela" or the Half-Pitcher Festival falls midway between the "Maha Kumbh Mela" or the Great Pitcher Festival, celebrated once every 12 years. Hindus believe bathing in the Ganges during the festivals cleanses them of sin, speeding the way to the end of reincarnation in this world and the attainment of nirvana, or the afterlife.

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