Diwali and Chhath Puja 2026: The Emotional Bond of Togetherness and Celebration

‘Marabou re Sugwa Dhanush se, Suga Gire Murkaye‘, a song echoing in the mood, markets decorated with lights and crackers, artists displaying their creativity with beautiful Rangolis at the roadside and festive news captures most of the state’s reminder newspapers. Reminding to us that we have reached the “Kaatik” Month. The month of Kaatik celebrates three important festivals together. It starts with the festival of lights followed by Bhaiya Dooj and ends with one of the most pious festivals ‘Chhath Puja’. No matter how busy your schedule is, the charm of this month will make you feel at home and you can’t resist being with your family.

Diwali and Bhaiya Dooj are celebrated with great fervor across the country, while Chhath Puja, a religious pride in Bihar and Uttar -Pradesh. It is an emotional connection that invites people to come home and live with family and loved ones. Being at home during the festival is a great feeling to live relationships. Let the emotional tears flow because it’s time to go home. Check the live station with the Travelkhana app and then book your ticket.

Special trains on Diwali and Chhath

The festival of Diwali and Chhath spreads the message of togetherness and happiness. It strengthens the relationship thread with the meaning of “Rishte Jo Kabhi na Chhuthe“. Sometimes, however, it seems impossible to choose a means of transport because of the heavy party noise of the train. The train offers the most comfortable and cheapest journey.  Indian Railways helps us every year with special train services. This year too it offered special trains to passengers to their hometowns. Indian Railways will run a total of 26 trains in each zone on the occasion of Diwali and Chhath. So fill your hearts with feelings and your bags with gifts to meet your family. Last-minute passengers or passengers boarding the train on the same day can check trains within the next 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours using the Travelkhana direct stations.

Festival Special Trains List: Routes, Numbers & Dates

162 Additional Special Trains during Puja, Diwali & Chhath Festival 2026 Total 580 Festival Special Trains announced till date

Central Railway has announced additional 162 Special trains to various destinations for the convenience of passengers during the upcoming Puja, Diwali and Chhath festival season. The total number of Festival Special Trains announced till date is now 580.

Details as given below:

(1). LTT-Samastipur-LTT  Weekly AC Specials (12 services)

01043 Weekly AC Special will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 12.15 hrs every Tuesday from 13.10.2026 to 17.11.2026 and will arrive Samastipur at 23.45 hrs next day (6 services)

01044 Weekly AC Special will leave Samastipur at 03.00 hrs every Thursday from 15.10.2026 to 19.11.2026 and will arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 15.45 hrs next day. (6 services)

Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Road, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Madan Mahal, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Buxar, Ara, Danapur, Patliputra, Sonpur, Hajipur and Muzzafarpur.

Composition: 2 AC-2 Tier, 18 AC-3 Tier and 2 Generator Vans.

(2). LTT-Danapur-LTT  Daily Specials (88 services)

01143 Daily Special will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 10.30 hrs daily from 09.10.2026 to 21.11.2026 and will arrive Danapur at 21.50 hrs next day. (44 services)

01144 Daily Special will leave Danapur at 00.10 hrs daily from 10.10.2026 to 22.11.2026 and will arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 06.50 hrs next day. (44 services)

Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri(for 01144), Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn, Baxur and Ara.

Composition: 4 AC-3 Tier, 11 Sleeper Class, 5 General Second Class and 2  Second Seating cum Guard’s Brake Vans.

(3). LTT-Santragachi-LTT  Weekly AC Superfast Specials (8 services)

01107 Weekly AC Special will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 20.20 hrs every Tuesday from 06.10.2026 to 27.10.2026 and will arrive Santragachi at 05.00 hrs third day. (4 services)

01108 Weekly AC Special will leave Santragachi at 11.00 hrs every Thursday from 08.10.2026 to 29.10.2026 and will arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 21.30 hrs next day. (4 services)

Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri(for 01108), Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Akola, Badnera, Nagpur, Gondia, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakaradharpur, Tatanagar and Kharagpur..

Composition: 1 AC First Class, 3 AC-2 Tier, 15 AC-3 Tier, 1 Pantry Car and 2 Generator Vans.

(4). LTT-Banaras-LTT  Weekly Specials (14 services)

05168 Weekly Special will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 18.10 hrs every Sunday from 18.10.2026 to 29.11.2026 and will arrive Banaras at 00.50 hrs third day. (7 services)

05167 Weekly Special will leave Banaras at 09.50 hrs every Saturday from 17.10.2026 to 28.11.2026 and will arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 16.50 hrs next day. (7 services)

Halts: Thane, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nashik Road, Bhusaval, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki and Varanasi.

Composition: 1 AC First Class, 2 AC-2 Tier, 4 AC-3 Tier, 2 AC-3 Tier Economy, 6 Sleeper Class, 5 General Second Class, 1  Second Seating cum Guard’s Brake Van and 1 Generator Vans.

(5).  Khadki – Hazrat Nizamuddin – Khadki   Bi-Weekly AC Superfast Special (28 services)

01483 Bi-Weekly AC Special will leave Khadki at 17.30 hrs every Tuesday & Friday from  06.10.2026 to 20.11.2026 and arrive Hazrat Nizamuddin at 18.10 hrs next day. (14 services)

01484 Bi-Weekly AC Special will leave Hazrat Nizamuddin at 22.10 hrs every Wednesday & Saturday from 07.10.2026 to 21.11.2026 and arrive Khadki at 22.15 hrs next day. (14 services)

Halts: Lonavla, Kalyan, Bhiwandi Road, Vasai Road, Palghar, Vapi, Valsad, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Bhawani Mandi, Kota, Sawai Madhopur and Mathura Junction.

Composition: 6 AC-2 Tier, 10 AC-3 Tier and 2 Generator Vans.

(6).  Khadki – Sanganer – Khadki  Weekly Superfast Special (12 services)

01411 Weekly Special will leave Khadki at 09.45 hrs every Thursday from  15.10.2026 to 19.11.2026 and arrive Sanganer at 06.45 hrs next day. (6 services)

01412 Weekly Special will leave Sanganer at 11.35 hrs every Friday from 16.10.2026 to 20.11.2026 and arrive Khadki at 09.30 hrs next day. (6 services)

Halts: Lonavla, Kalyan, Vasai Road, Palghar, Vapi, Valsad, Surat, Ankleshwar, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota and  Sawai Madhopur.

Composition: 1 AC-2 Tier, 3 AC-3 Tier, 6 Sleeper Class, 4 General Second Class, 2  Second Seating cum Guard’s Brake Vans and 1 Generator Van.

Reservation: Bookings for special trains nos 01043, 01143, 01107, 05168, 01483 and 01411 will open o­n 02.10.2026 at all computerized reservation centres and o­n website www.irctc.co.in. Bookings for unreserved coaches with normal charges can be done through UTS system. Passengers can also use RailOne app for booking of tickets.

Diwali Celebrations

Every year the festival takes place either in October or November. This year the festival is celebrated in November and ends in the second week of November. According to the Hindu calendar and Panchang, the frenzy of festivals starts with Diwali which is celebrated on November 8, 2026 and ends with Chhath Puja. Chhath Puja 2026 from Friday, November 13, 2026, to Monday, November 16, 2026, with the main evening offering (Sandhya Arghya) on Sunday, November 15, 2026.

Among the festivals, there are many other festivals like Bhaiya Dooj and Govardhan Puja schedule.

Diwali: Sunday, November 8, 2026

Govardhan Puja: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Bhaiya Dooj: Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Chhath Puja Rituals:

Starting with Nahhaya Khaye on Chhath Puja is celebrated from Friday, November 13 to Monday, November 16, 2026. Chhath rituals will continue for four consecutive days.

Order food from the train for the Festive Fiesta

Food plays an important role in train travel, especially if you have to travel a long distance. It is quite difficult to carry extra food for a trip. Passengers traveling during the Kaatik festival month avoid eating food from vendors in the station area. Moreover, it is difficult to identify unauthorized food vendors selling their unhygienic food on the train. Keeping this in mind, Travelkhana offers pure vegetarian food to passengers on the train so that they can respect the ritual during their journey. Passengers can order carefully prepared pure vegetarian food on the train. As a token of love to Bhai Dooj, you can also order famous local sweets on your way home. Download the Travelkhana app and make it your foodie companion on your journey.

Diwali Voucher to order your favorite food on the train:

Like every year, Travelkhana is here to make your travel and group dining experiences more affordable this Diwali with special discounted rates on group food delivery, airport food delivery, railway station food delivery, corporate catering, and bulk food orders. Whether you’re planning a group trip, a corporate event, or a journey with family and friends, enjoy delicious meals at attractive prices with Travelkhana.

Festivals are a reason to create and maintain a lasting relationship. It’s a way to bring you back to their homes once a year. It keeps you closer to tradition and culture. “Kyonki Tyohaar Riste Baandhte Hai”.

Travelkhana wishes you a Happy and Safe Diwali and Happy Chhath Puja!