Nagpur foodies enjoy Navratri goodies on train journey

Navratri season brings along a potpourri of festive activities and delightful aromas emanating from the homes that tickle the palates of diehard foodies. But, those who have to travel, especially by train during this time, rue their fate. For long-distance travellers, carrying food from home gets tedious and the thought of having regular train fare leaves one cold. But Indian Railway is now offering Navratri special cuisine in its e-catering menu and Nagpur foodies are enjoying their stint with festive food. This special fare, which will be available for the travellers from October 10 to October 18, is being enjoyed more by the non-fasting lot than the ones who are fasting during Navratri, shares the manager of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Nagpur, Ahad Siddiqui. He goes on to add, “This cuisine is available at select stations. Interestingly, 70-80 percent people ordering satvik thali are diehard foodies, who love the fact that so many traditional delicacies are being served to them in the train.”

The variety on the menu is definitely quite tempting. From kuttu ki puri to pethe ki bhaji, jeera aloo, sabudana kheer, lauki ki kheer, apple raita, sabudana papad and fresh fruits being some of the delicacies on offer, foodies are definitely not complaining. “I had a lot of running around to do before catching a train to Delhi on Thursday. Having reached Nagpur station a couple of hours before my train’s arrival, I was frustrated thinking about mundane vegetarian food that I would have to eat in the train, but while surfing railway’s food app, I saw some interesting Navratri cuisine on the menu and ordered it,” says Dugesh Tripathi and adds, “Honestly, my expectations were low, seeing the past record of the railway food, but I was surprised when thali was delivered. Sabudana kheer was exceptionally good. I hope this facility is continued till Diwali.”












One thing that really works in the favour of this festive cuisine is that it is not easily available in the city. A student of engineering, Annish Verma, who travelled to Gurgaon recently shares, “It was sheer nostalgia that made me order kuttu ki puri because it reminded me of my daadi, who passed away three years ago. She used to prepare this delicacy during Durga Puja. The taste was different, but I liked it. But sabudana papad gets little soggy by the time you eat it; it should be packed properly so that it retains the requisite crunch.”

Homemaker Sudha Tidke, who tried this cuisine on her trip to Jhansi, recently, adds, “In the remaining days of Navratri, singade ki roti and sabudana khichdi should also be served. Puri is deep fried and due to medical reasons, many people may want a healthier option.”

IRCTC manager shares that efforts are being made to add some variety to the menu. “We try and serve lauki ki kheer in dessert along with sabunana kheer. In cut fruits too, we try and serve different fruits like pineapple, apple, sweet lime and pomegranate. But travellers have to order for these delicacies two hours in advance via our food app. At our live kitchen, Comesum, at Nagpur railway station, we are able to serve extra variety to the travellers who want to enjoy a meal before catching the train, but for packed food delivered at the berth, options are lesser.”