Chhath Puja sends millions of travellers towards Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP — and trains to Patna, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga fill up faster than almost any route in India. Here is how Chhath special trains work and how to book a confirmed seat.

Why Chhath Travel Is So Hard

Chhath is a homecoming festival, so demand on Delhi–Patna, Mumbai–Patna, Surat, Pune and Ahmedabad towards Bihar is enormous. Regular trains go to long waiting lists within minutes of the booking window opening, which is why Railways adds hundreds of Chhath special trains.

Book at the 60-Day Mark

Reservations open 60 days before the journey date (excluding travel day) at 8:00 AM. For Chhath, booking on that opening morning is essential — log in early and keep your IRCTC Master List saved so you can book in seconds. See how early you can book.

Find Chhath Special Trains

Search your route on IRCTC and look for festival special trains (usually 0xxxx numbers) alongside the regular ones. Zones run specials from Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Pune and Ahmedabad to Bihar, and they often have seats when regular trains are full — so check specials before giving up. More: festival special trains — how to book confirmed tickets.

If Trains Are Full

• Tatkal opens one day before departure — 10:00 AM AC, 11:00 AM Sleeper. See Tatkal tips.
• Return journey sells out too — book both legs together.
• Split your journey (book to a less-busy junction and travel on) if direct trains are gone.
• Read why most people can't get festival train tickets.

Booked but Waitlisted?

Chhath waiting lists are long. Check your PNR confirmation probability to see whether your number is likely to clear, and keep a backup.

Bottom line: for Chhath, book Bihar-bound trains at the 60-day mark at 8:00 AM, lean on special trains and Tatkal when regular trains fill, book your return at the same time, and track your PNR if you land on the waiting list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Chhath Puja special trains?

They are extra trains Indian Railways runs during Chhath on high-demand Bihar routes like Delhi–Patna and Mumbai–Patna. They often have confirmed seats when regular trains are full, so always search your route for specials (usually 0xxxx numbers).

When do Chhath special train bookings open?

Like all reserved tickets, 60 days before the journey date (excluding travel day) at 8:00 AM. Chhath demand is extreme, so book the moment the window opens.

Which routes are busiest for Chhath?

Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Pune and Ahmedabad towards Patna, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga are the most crowded. Book early and consider return tickets at the same time.

Will my Chhath waiting-list ticket confirm?

It depends on your number, quota and train. Chhath waitlists are long but move with cancellations. Check your PNR confirmation probability and keep a confirmed backup if your number is high.

Heading home for Chhath? [Check your PNR and confirmation chances](/pnr) on ConfirmYatra.