Varanasi couple celebrates son's birthday aboard first Vande Bharat to Kashmir, sparks backlash: ‘No public decency'
A couple from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, celebrated their son's sixth birthday aboard Kashmir's first-ever Vande Bharat Express train on its inaugural run. Rakesh and Neha Jaiswal chose to celebrate the special day for their son, Moksh, while traveling through one of India's most historic rail routes, ANI reported. However, the incident did not sit well with social media users.
The celebration took place as the train passed over the newly inaugurated Anji Khad Bridge, the tallest railway bridge in India. On June 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Vande Bharat Express to Kashmir, flagging it off from Jammu after the successful completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project. On the same day, another Vande Bharat service between Srinagar and Katra was also launched.
Speaking to ANI, Rakesh said, 'It was a coincidence that it was our son's birthday the same day PM Modi was going to flag off this train. We thought we should celebrate our son's birthday on the first journey of this train so that his birthday becomes memorable for him.'
Neha said, 'This is the best gift for our son… We made this plan because of PM Modi.'
The viral video captures the celebration inside the train, young Moksh surrounded by his parents, cutting a birthday cake while fellow passengers join in with claps and cheers.
Watch here:
#WATCH | A couple, Rakesh and Neha Jaiswal from Varanasi, celebrate their son Moksh's sixth birthday inside Kashmir's first Vande Bharat express train, cutting the cake as the train reaches Anji Khad Bridge, inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi yesterday.
Rakesh Jaiswal says, 'It was… pic.twitter.com/cr6b3UaI4K
— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2025
Several users criticised the incident over public decency and civic sense, with a user commenting, 'Train is not your party place, stop lighting candles. Keep the train clean, enjoy the journey instead of using it as your private property for doing party.' Another user wrote, 'There are solid reasons for which we get hate from other nations.'
'No public decency,' a third user reacted. 'Lighting matches inside a train??? Shouldn't they be punished too for that grave fault?' a fourth user commented.
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