Durga Puja and Dussehra Special Trains 2026: Booking Dates and Full List
Durga Puja and Dussehra bring one of the biggest travel rushes of the year on Indian Railways. Lakhs of people working in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Surat, Pune and other cities head home to West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Assam to celebrate with family. Trains fill up fast, and confirmed tickets disappear within minutes. This page brings you the Durga Puja and Dussehra special trains 2026, booking dates, key routes, and simple tips to get a confirmed seat.
Durga Puja and Dussehra 2026: Important Dates
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Mahalaya | Around 10 to 12 October 2026 |
| Shashthi (Puja begins) | Friday, 16 October 2026 |
| Maha Saptami | Saturday, 17 October 2026 |
| Maha Ashtami | Sunday, 18 October 2026 |
| Maha Navami | Monday, 19 October 2026 |
| Vijayadashami (Dussehra) | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 |
Most travellers prefer to reach home a few days before Shashthi (around 14 to 16 October) and return after Vijayadashami. The return rush in the last week of October is just as heavy as the onward journey.
Thousands of Festival Special Trains Expected
Every year, Indian Railways runs a large number of special trains for the festive season covering Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath together. In recent years this has crossed 6,000 special train services between October and November, along with extra coaches attached to regular trains. For 2026, a similar or larger number is expected, and the full list is released in phases from around August and September.
Tip: Special trains are announced batch by batch, not all together. Follow this page and set an alarm for the booking date, because the best-connected trains sell out on the first day.
Booking Dates: When Reservation Opens
Indian Railways opens reservation for most special trains 60 days before the journey date, at 8:00 AM on the IRCTC website and app, and at PRS counters. So for a mid-October journey, booking opens in the second half of August. Each train has its own booking-open date depending on when it is announced.
Some festival specials run as Suvidha or special fare trains with dynamic pricing, so their fare can be higher than a regular train. The exact fare and timing show up on the IRCTC booking page once the train opens.
Popular Routes for Durga Puja and Dussehra
The heaviest demand every year is on trains heading east and to the Hindi belt. Based on previous festival seasons, the busiest corridors include:
- Delhi and Anand Vihar to Patna, Gorakhpur, Jogbani, Katihar and Kolkata
- Mumbai (LTT, CSMT, Bandra) to Kolkata (Howrah), Patna, Bhagalpur and Guwahati
- Bengaluru and Chennai to Kolkata, Patna and Bhubaneswar
- Ahmedabad, Surat and Pune to Bihar and West Bengal
- Lucknow, Agra and Kanpur to Kolkata and the Northeast
Trains towards Kolkata, Howrah, Sealdah, Patna, Gorakhpur, New Jalpaiguri, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar see the longest waiting lists, so these are the first ones to book.
City-wise Trains: Confirmed and Awaited
This section will be updated as Railways announces the 2026 festival specials. At the time of writing, the detailed 2026 list is awaited.
| From City | Status |
|---|---|
| Delhi and Anand Vihar | Awaited |
| Mumbai | Awaited |
| Bengaluru | Awaited |
| Ahmedabad and Surat | Awaited |
| Pune | Awaited |
| Lucknow and Agra | Awaited |
As soon as trains for each city are announced with their numbers, dates and stoppages, we will move them to Confirmed and add the details here.
How to Get a Confirmed Festival Ticket
- Prepare your IRCTC account early. Verify your mobile and email, save all family members in the Master List, and link UPI or a card before the booking date.
- Be logged in by 7:50 AM on the booking-open date, with the train and date already decided.
- Book the return leg too. Return trains after Vijayadashami are as crowded as the onward journey. Book both together.
- Keep 2 or 3 date options ready. If your first choice is waitlisted, a day earlier or later may still have berths.
- Check regular trains as backup. A confirmed berth on a daily Express is better than a long waitlist on a special.
- Try Tatkal as a last option. Tatkal booking opens one day before the journey. Read our Tatkal booking guide to improve your chances.
- Avoid touts. Book only through IRCTC, authorised agents, or PRS counters.
Why Book Early for the Festival Season
During Durga Puja and Dussehra, flight fares to Kolkata, Patna and Guwahati rise sharply, and buses also become costly and slow on crowded highways. Trains stay the most affordable and comfortable option, which is why the rush is so heavy. Early booking is the only sure way to get a confirmed berth in the festival week.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Durga Puja and Dussehra in 2026?
The main Durga Puja days run from Shashthi on 16 October to Vijayadashami on 20 October 2026. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
When will the special trains be announced?
The festival special train list is usually released in phases from August and September. This page will be updated as each batch is announced.
When does booking open?
Most special trains open for booking 60 days before the journey at 8:00 AM on IRCTC and PRS counters. Each train has its own booking date.
Which routes have the heaviest rush?
Trains to Kolkata, Patna, Gorakhpur, New Jalpaiguri, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Gujarat see the longest waiting lists.
Are festival special fares higher?
Some specials run as Suvidha or special fare trains with dynamic pricing, so the fare can be higher than a regular train. The exact fare shows on the IRCTC page when the train opens.
Quick Summary
| Festival | Durga Puja and Dussehra |
| Main dates | 16 to 20 October 2026 |
| Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Tuesday, 20 October 2026 |
| Special trains | Thousands expected (Oct to Nov) |
| Booking opens | 60 days before journey, 8:00 AM |
| Busiest routes | To Kolkata, Patna, Gorakhpur, Guwahati |
The festival season is a time to be home with family, and a confirmed train ticket is the first step. Bookmark this page, because we will keep updating it with every new Durga Puja and Dussehra special train, its route and its booking date as Railways announces them.
Which route are you booking this festive season? Tell us in the comments, and we will help you track the right special train.
