Indian Railways announces advance ticket booking schedule for Chhath Puja travel in 2026

Indian Railways has released the official ticket booking schedule to help passengers plan their journeys home for the upcoming Chhath Puja festival. Travellers can now mark their calendars and prepare for the massive festive rush across the national rail network.

Ticket bookings for train travel on November 9, 2026 will officially open on September 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM. This advance reservation window is carefully scheduled to assist passengers in reaching their hometowns five days before the commencement of the Chhath Puja festival. With Chhath Puja 2026 scheduled between November 13 and November 17, extremely high passenger demand is expected across major routes.

Special Trains and Route Details

To manage the massive holiday rush, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that Indian Railways intends to operate approximately 12,000 special trains throughout the festive season to accommodate the passenger surge. As part of these comprehensive arrangements, Northern Railway has announced specific festival special trains connecting Delhi with major hubs in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Key routes include the New Delhi-Danapur, Ayodhya Cantt-Anand Vihar Terminal, and Varanasi-Anand Vihar Terminal services.

Furthermore, Indian Railways is introducing direct festival special trains running from September 11 to December 7, 2026. These special services will feature 19-coach configurations that include Sleeper, AC Three-Tier, and General coaches to cater to all classes of travellers.

Tips for Successful Booking

Securing a confirmed train ticket during peak festive seasons can be challenging. Passengers are strongly encouraged to utilize the official IRCTC portal for their bookings. To improve your chances of securing confirmed seats, travellers should maintain a verified Master List of passenger details in advance and utilize fast payment methods such as the IRCTC eWallet.

While Tatkal and Premium Tatkal quotas will remain available as a last resort, Indian Railways reminds all travellers that heavy waitlists are common during this high-demand period and no booking method can guarantee a 100 percent confirmed ticket. Early planning and prompt action at 8:00 AM on the opening day remain your best strategy for a smooth journey.