Indian Railways opens Diwali and Chhath Puja ticket bookings

Indian Railways has commenced the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for travel during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. Under the 60-day booking rule, passengers began attempting to secure tickets for early November travel on September 6, 2026.

High demand has led to rapid sell-outs on major routes, including Delhi-Patna, Mumbai-Gorakhpur, and Chennai-southern districts. In several instances, sleeper and AC coaches were fully booked within minutes of the 8:00 AM opening, resulting in extensive waiting lists. To manage the surge, the railway has announced special festival trains, such as the Mumbai Central–Katihar special service.

IRCTC has issued warnings to travelers to avoid fraudulent agents and to double-check personal details—such as name spelling, age, gender, and mobile numbers—during the booking process to prevent refund issues or difficulties during ticket verification by TTEs.