IRCTC to Serve Ukadiche Modak on Mumbai-Madgaon Tejas Express During Ganeshotsav

Passengers travelling on the Mumbai–Madgaon Tejas Express during Ganeshotsav will be treated to a taste of Maharashtra's festive tradition onboard, with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) planning to serve traditional ukadiche modak. The special culinary initiative will be offered to all passengers travelling on the premium train service during the festival period.

The festive treat will be provided to thousands of travellers heading towards the Konkan region from Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and other parts of Maharashtra. Known widely as chakaramanis, these passengers live in Mumbai for work and business and return to their native villages across Konkan to celebrate the annual festival with their families.

According to railway authorities, the initiative will be implemented directly through IRCTC's catering and tourism division. Traditional steamed modaks will be distributed to every passenger onboard train number 22119, the CSMT–Madgaon Tejas Express, as well as train number 22120, the Madgaon–CSMT Tejas Express.

Railway officials noted that the sweet dish will be provided strictly as a special festive arrangement planned exclusively for the duration of the Ganeshotsav period. Because it is designed solely to celebrate the festival, the steamed modak offering will not form part of the Tejas Express regular catering menu.

The introduction of the festive treat coincides with the massive seasonal travel rush towards Konkan. The departure of thousands of chakaramanis from Thane, Mumbai, and surrounding regions ahead of the festival typically triggers heavy crowds at railway stations and leads to a sharp increase in demand for train seats and special trains.

To help manage the heavy seasonal passenger volume, the Railways is operating additional train services along the route. Alongside these operational arrangements, IRCTC's initiative seeks to introduce a festive element directly into the journey, making the travel experience more celebratory for Konkan-bound passengers.

Modak holds a revered place in the Ganesh festival, particularly ukadiche modak, which is traditionally prepared across Maharashtra as a sacred offering to Lord Ganesha. For passengers travelling inside the Tejas coaches, the steamed modak is expected to evoke memories of celebrations and home-cooked food, offering more than just a regular meal by delivering an early taste of the homecoming festivities awaiting them.