Busy Afternoon- on Daily Basis!

Having dodged a person, who gave "Dwenty one rupees" to the coffee vendor for having bought three cuppas- I march towards the customary position where I always stand to see train. In my route, I come across many nuns- in their uniform, ladies with horizontal "kum-kum", and amidst the heavy coconut flavored air. Finally in the hotspot- the place where you can see the entire crowd awaiting their journey to their homeland.

If you are sitting in Hotel Saravana Bhavan at Chennai Central, you can find many ladies with horizontal "kum-kum", loose hair tied at the tad end of its tip, mostly curly, with coconut oil applied and gents with horizontal "kum-kum", curly hair, with heavy coconut oil- in the entire evening. If you are in Bangalore City Railway Station or at Yesvantpur Railway Station, a secondary railway station for the city of Bengaluru- you can see the ladies and gents of the features I've mentioned above almost entire evening. But if you are either in Hyderabad Deccan (often referred as Nampally Railway Station) or Secunderabad Railway Station, the only time when you can see the people with those features is just at afternoons. Yes, if you want to see major gathering of Malayalees at the twin cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad, probably the best place to get them all under one roof is platform #1, Secunderabad Railway Station- at 12:00 noon.

And no prizes for guessing the train incoming correctly, as the only train from twin cities to reach state of Kerala is the Sabari Express, which is probably the biggest ever train in my opinion. In the month of January- it brings back people who have been to their native state for celebrating Christmas and New Year- along with the students who have been to the industrial tour to the Gods Own Country. If you think these are the only two reasons for me to call it the biggest train- you are absolutely wrong. The devotees of Aiyappa Swamy also get catered by the Sabari. As the month of February comes- the devotees who have missed out to worship lord Aiyappa, plan their trip in February. As soon as its March and once the Summer Vacations start- Sabari serves people by taking them to their native places and then starts the actual rush. April-May-June, each and every month, irrespective of the weather is- it carries the maximum people it can. And once the month of "Chingam" comes in Malayalam calender, the Thiruvonam patronage starts. As as the Dussehera vacation starts, the Industrial tour season starts. Dussehera Vacation visits to native places, Industrial Tours of engineering college students, and slowly the season of Christmas hits dawn. Yes- Sabari Express is the only train from twin cities to the Gods Own country and yes- its the biggest train ever in my opinion.

The crowded platform 1 moves a bit towards railway track- as they hear a honk from the mighty beast from Krishnarajapuram- the locomotive made in heaven- GT46PAC. People say "Entering the train bound to your place makes you feel half in your place" and that is absolutely apt. Many faces get an unknown glow, seeing their source of transportation to their native place. The people of general compartments get alerted as they have an uphill task to do. Yes- love at first sight- KJM WDP4 20042 doing the honors in Long Hood Forward.

The train comes to halt. The luggage is loaded in Luggage Vans at either ends of the train and the passengers enter the train. At least 15 people surround each door, awaiting their entry in the Sabari. Heavy luggage to handle, just one odd persons traveling, and many for seeing offs. The starter has been given- Parcel vans are locked. The passengers who got their reservations waitlisted enter their abode- footboard. The assistant chief comes out of cab- with his walkie talkie and green flag. The guard speaks out "Loco pilot 17230, please move" and the WDP4 yells at its best. The roar gets louder as the throttle is increased and the train starts to move out of Secunderabad.

WAIT!!!!

Somebody pulls the chain- yes! The assistant chief runs to the coach where the chain is pulled. Yes, one doesn't afford to miss Sabari as he has to wait for one full day for the next connectivity to their homeland.

"Honk-Honk-Hooooooooonk... Honk-Honk-Hooooooooonk... Honk-Honk-Hooooooooonk..." The chief confirms the chain pulling and once the pressure is released, the train gently moves out of platform 1 of Secunderabad.

File pic of Sabari Express at Ghatkesar

Yes, if you want to see major gathering of Malayalees at the twin cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad, probably the best place to get them all under one roof is platform #1, Secunderabad Railway Station- at 12:00 noon.