Diwali Train Ticket Booking Begins: 60-Day Advance Window Opens For Festival Travel
Diwali train ticket booking has begun for passengers planning to travel home for the festival season. The 60-day advance reservation window opened on September 6, giving travellers an opportunity to secure seats well before the festive rush reaches its peak.
Diwali will be celebrated on November 8 this year, while Dhanteras falls on November 6. With Chhath Puja also approaching soon after Diwali, trains heading towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other northern destinations are expected to see heavy demand.
Under the current railway reservation system, tickets for regular trains can be booked up to 60 days before the journey date, excluding the date of travel itself. The booking window opens at 8am, making timing particularly important on busy festival routes.
Routes such as Delhi-Howrah, Delhi-Varanasi and Delhi-Patna are expected to attract considerable demand around Diwali and Chhath Puja. Other busy corridors include Patna-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Patna, Delhi-Lucknow and Chennai-Patna.
On some popular services, available seats can disappear within hours of the reservation window opening. Travellers who already know their journey dates therefore have a better chance of getting a confirmed seat by booking as soon as reservations become available.
Passengers can book through the IRCTC website or app by entering their journey details, selecting an available train and choosing the preferred class. Having passenger details and payment information ready before the booking window opens can also make the process quicker.
The availability and schedules of these services can vary by route and date. Passengers who are unable to find a confirmed seat on regular trains should keep an eye out for additional services announced for the festive period.
Travellers should also avoid restricting their search to a single train. Checking nearby stations, alternative services and slightly different travel dates can increase the chances of finding an available seat.
However, Tatkal seats on heavily travelled festival routes can also be difficult to obtain. Demand is usually high, so passengers relying on this option should be prepared to complete the booking process as soon as the relevant window opens.
For those planning a Diwali journey in 2026, the key dates have already arrived. With the advance booking period now open, passengers travelling on busy routes should finalise their plans early rather than waiting until the festival is closer.
Image Courtesy: Meta AI
Diwali will be celebrated on November 8 this year, while Dhanteras falls on November 6. With Chhath Puja also approaching soon after Diwali, trains heading towards Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other northern destinations are expected to see heavy demand.
Under the current railway reservation system, tickets for regular trains can be booked up to 60 days before the journey date, excluding the date of travel itself. The booking window opens at 8am, making timing particularly important on busy festival routes.
Why early booking matters this year
Festival travel often brings a sharp increase in demand for railway tickets, particularly on routes connecting major cities with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Passengers travelling from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and other large cities frequently compete for a limited number of seats.Routes such as Delhi-Howrah, Delhi-Varanasi and Delhi-Patna are expected to attract considerable demand around Diwali and Chhath Puja. Other busy corridors include Patna-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Patna, Delhi-Lucknow and Chennai-Patna.
On some popular services, available seats can disappear within hours of the reservation window opening. Travellers who already know their journey dates therefore have a better chance of getting a confirmed seat by booking as soon as reservations become available.
Passengers can book through the IRCTC website or app by entering their journey details, selecting an available train and choosing the preferred class. Having passenger details and payment information ready before the booking window opens can also make the process quicker.
When will Diwali special trains run?
The railways generally introduce special services during major festive periods to manage the additional passenger traffic. Additional trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026 are also expected to be planned as demand becomes clearer.The availability and schedules of these services can vary by route and date. Passengers who are unable to find a confirmed seat on regular trains should keep an eye out for additional services announced for the festive period.
Travellers should also avoid restricting their search to a single train. Checking nearby stations, alternative services and slightly different travel dates can increase the chances of finding an available seat.
Tatkal remains an option for last-minute travel
Passengers who fail to secure a regular reservation can use the Tatkal booking facility, subject to availability. Tatkal reservations open one day before the scheduled journey, with bookings beginning at 10am for AC classes and 11am for non-AC classes.However, Tatkal seats on heavily travelled festival routes can also be difficult to obtain. Demand is usually high, so passengers relying on this option should be prepared to complete the booking process as soon as the relevant window opens.
For those planning a Diwali journey in 2026, the key dates have already arrived. With the advance booking period now open, passengers travelling on busy routes should finalise their plans early rather than waiting until the festival is closer.
Image Courtesy: Meta AI
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