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Diwali and Chhath Puja Advance Train Bookings Have Opened, and the 60-Day Window Is Already Filling Fast
With Diwali falling on 8 November and Chhath Puja on 15 November 2026, Indian Railways' 60-day advance reservation window for both festivals has now opened, and booking trackers report seats on the most in-demand routes, particularly toward Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, filling within minutes of release.
By BigTravel.in Editorial Team · · 2 min read
Diwali falls on 8 November 2026 and Chhath Puja follows a week later on 15 November, and the two festivals together drive one of the heaviest travel surges on the Indian Railways network each year. Because reservations open exactly 60 days ahead of travel under the standard Advance Reservation Period, the booking window for the earliest Diwali travel dates has already opened, with the window for Chhath-period travel opening in stages through the following week.
What's opened, and what to expect
As in previous years, Indian Railways is expected to run a large number of festival special trains on top of its regular timetable, concentrated on routes into Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh from Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and other centres with large migrant populations from those states. Bookings can be made daily from 8am via the IRCTC website and app, or at railway reservation counters, and travel trade trackers report that confirmed berths on the most in-demand routes for the days immediately before Diwali and Chhath are already scarce.
Why it matters for travellers now
Anyone planning festive-season rail travel, whether visiting family or touring through the period, should book as early as possible once their travel date falls within the 60-day window, and keep an eye on IRCTC for supplementary special trains, which are typically announced closer to the travel dates themselves and can open with as little as 10 to 30 days' notice. Waitlisted tickets on the most popular routes have historically carried a real risk of not confirming during this period.
Traveller tips
- The standard advance booking window is 60 days before travel, opening daily at 8am on the IRCTC website and app.
- Special trains for Diwali and Chhath are added in phases; check IRCTC's special train listings closer to your travel date even if regular trains show no availability.
- Routes toward Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the wider Gangetic plain see the heaviest demand; book these first if travelling that way.
- Confirm current train schedules, fares and special-train listings directly on the official IRCTC website or app before finalising travel plans, as details can change closer to the festival dates.
Where this is
New Delhi, India
