Ganpati 'boards' a train to Jammu and Kashmir for soldiers

The Bandra-Jammu Tawi Swaraj Express on Monday had an unusual passenger on board: a 6-foot-tall Ganpati idol.

In a display of faith and patriotism, a Ghatkopar woman has decided to take the idol from Mumbai to Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate Ganeshotsav near the Line of Control.

As she began her 36-hour journey with her 'Bharat-Pakistan Bordercha Raja', Kiran Bala Somraj Isher said she hoped to transport the idol to her village in Poonch district from Jammu railway station – a distance of 350 km – with the help of friends and Army jawans.

Isher, who runs an NGO for soldiers and martyrs in J&K, said her family welcomes the Lord at Jammu every year. However, they have not been able to coordinate the logistics this time following the removal of the special status of J&K.

"I could not establish contact with my family members," Isher said. So she decided to take it upon herself to take the 'Bordercha Raja' with a couple of friends from Mumbai. She said she is confident soldiers will help her carry the idol to her village. "Soldiers are waiting for the darshan of 'Bharat-Pakistan Bordercha Raja' as it is their yearly practice."

In 2016, Isher's nephew Rajendra Kumar Sharma killed four terrorists and saved 250 lives before getting martyred in J&K. Her uncle Sukhraj was also martyred in Ladakh. She has been celebrating Ganpati festival in Kashmir for past nine years and has been taking an idol from Mumbai since 2015. Shri Pandre, a physically challenged artist, makes the idol.