Durga Puja, Diwali & Chhath 2026: When Does Train Booking Open?

Festival-season trains sell out within minutes of the 60-day window opening — sometimes faster than Tatkal. Knowing the exact opening date, and being logged in and ready before it, is the single biggest factor in getting a confirmed berth home this Puja season.

2026 Festival Dates & Booking-Open Dates

These dates are calculated straight from the 60-day Advance Reservation Period, counted from the train's origin station. Always double-check the exact festival date for your specific route, since regional calendars can shift by a day.

Why These Dates Get Booked So Fast

• Festival travel is when the largest number of people book at once — demand spikes far beyond a normal weekend.
• Popular routes (Kolkata–Delhi, Mumbai–Patna, Bengaluru–Kolkata and similar long-haul corridors) often go from "Available" to "Waiting List" within the first hour.
• Return journeys just after the festival are equally competitive — book both legs the moment the window opens.

How to Prepare Before the Booking Date

• Set a reminder for the exact opening date — TrainsDate.in's calculator can push it to your calendar or WhatsApp automatically.
• Keep your IRCTC login, saved passenger list and preferred payment method ready the night before.
• Decide your train and class in advance so you're not searching and deciding in the same rushed minute.

Useful tools: IRCTC booking date calculator · Tatkal booking time · advance reservation period (ARP)