Surat: Western Railway has made comprehensive arrangements to effectively manage the heavy passenger rush during the Holi festival season, according to a press release. According to the Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, WR has announced the operation of 308 trips of special trains from Western Railway stations to cater to the Holi rush during the last week of February and throughout March. Accordingly, from February 21 to March 2, 2026, the Zone operated 266 s...Read More

Surat: Western Railway operated eight Holi special trains from Udhna railway station on Sunday, recording the highest single-day passenger turnout from Surat, as nearly 20,000 people travelled to their native places for the festival. Comprehensive arrangements were made to ensure smooth passenger movement and to prevent overcrowding or any stampede-like situations. The first special service, the Udhna–Jayanagar train, departed at 3.30 am with nearly 4,000 passengers on board. Additional spec...Read More

Ahmedabad: In view of the upcoming Fagun Sud Poonam fair at Dakor, city police have announced traffic restrictions and diversions in parts of Ahmedabad to ensure smooth movement and prevent congestion. The annual fair, scheduled from February 27, 2026 to March 4, 2026, is expected to draw a large number of pilgrims travelling towards Dakor for darshan. Anticipating a significant rise in vehicular traffic, particularly on routes connecting to the Ahmedabad–Mehmedabad highway and surrounding ar...Read More

Gandhinagar: Holi, one of the most vibrant and significant festivals of Hinduism, symbolizes the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. The festival includes Holika Dahan, Dhuleti (Rangotsav), and the preceding eight-day period known as Holashtak, each carrying deep religious importance. Holashtak: A Pause on Auspicious Ceremonies In Hindu tradition, Holashtak is considered inauspicious for performing शुभ (auspicious) activities due to unfavorable planetary positions. Dur...Read More

Gandhinagar: To enable citizens to celebrate the festivals of Holi and Dhuleti with their families in their hometowns, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) will operate additional buses. Compared to last year, the number of extra services has been increased, with a total of 1,300 additional buses scheduled to operate more than 7,500 trips. Special travel arrangements have been made for passengers travelling from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Amreli, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, and Bhuj towards Go...Read More

Surat: In anticipation of the heavy passenger rush during the Holi and Dhuleti festival, the Western Railway has decided to ban the issuance of platform tickets at Surat and Udhna railway stations from March 13th to March 16th. This measure aims to control the overwhelming crowd at the stations. The decision comes as a result of the significant surge in passengers traveling to their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan for the festival. On Tuesday alone, over 10,000 pa...Read More

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Speaker Shankarbhai Chaudhary, ministers, and MLAs played Holi at the State Assembly campus in capital Gandhinagar today. This was the second such Holi celebration hosted by the Speaker in recent years. The ministers and MLAs danced, threw colors on one another, and had a great time. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi was especially seen participating very actively. A large lotus was created on the lawn of the State Assembly campus u...Read More

Dakor:  The revered Ranchhodrayji Temple in Dakor is preparing for the grand celebration of the Holi (Phagani Poonam) festival on March 14th. The temple is expecting a massive influx of devotees, with an estimated 7 lakh people visiting over two days, March 13th and 14th. Extended Darshan Timings and Preparations To accommodate the large crowds, the temple authorities have extended the darshan (viewing) timings. On March 13th, the Mangala Aarti (morning prayer) will be held at 5:00 AM, and on...Read More

Nadiad: In anticipation of the annual Dakor pilgrimage, the Additional Collector has issued a notification imposing traffic restrictions on major routes leading to Dakor from March 9th to 15th. The restrictions are aimed at ensuring the smooth and safe movement of pilgrims during this period. No Entry for Vehicles on Key Routes During the specified dates, a "No Entry" order will be in effect for all vehicles on the following routes: Raska Pota Canal (Ahmedabad Road) to Mahemdavad, Khatr...Read More

Surat: With the Holi festival and summer vacations approaching, the Western Railway is preparing to manage the expected surge in passenger traffic at Surat and Udhna railway stations. The railway administration is on high alert due to ongoing construction work at Surat station, which has led to the diversion of numerous trains to Udhna. To handle the anticipated crowds, especially on trains heading towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan, the railway has deployed additional secu...Read More