Diwali 2026 Train Ticket Booking Starts Tomorrow: Check Booking Dates for November 5, 6 and 7 Travel

Diwali 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, November 8, and advance train ticket reservations for the festive rush are set to begin tomorrow. Passengers planning to travel from Chennai to their hometowns for Diwali are advised to plan their journeys and book tickets as early as possible.

Chennai is home to a large number of people from southern Tamil Nadu districts such as Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar and Madurai, as well as Coimbatore and other parts of the state. Many live in Chennai for business, employment and higher education and travel to their native places during major festivals such as Diwali and Pongal.

Diwali Train Ticket Booking Dates 2026

Indian Railways currently follows a 60-day advance reservation period for regular train tickets. Based on the travel date, passengers can make their bookings according to the following schedule:

November 5 (Thursday) travel: Booking begins on September 6

November 6 (Friday) travel: Booking begins on September 7

November 7 (Saturday) travel: Booking begins on September 8

November 8 (Sunday – Diwali): Passengers travelling on Diwali day should check the applicable booking date based on the 60-day reservation window.

Passengers returning from their hometowns to major cities such as Chennai and Coimbatore after Diwali should also plan their return journeys well in advance.

Heavy Rush Expected for Diwali Train Tickets

A large number of people are expected to travel to their hometowns during the Diwali holidays. As a result, seats on popular trains could fill up within minutes of reservations opening.

In previous years, several trains to major destinations reached waiting-list status shortly after ticket booking began. Special trains were also operated to accommodate the additional festive-season demand, but these services too witnessed heavy bookings.

Passengers who fail to secure reserved tickets may have to depend on unreserved coaches or alternative modes of transport. Therefore, travellers are advised to decide their travel dates in advance and be ready to book as soon as reservations open.

November 6 Could See Heavy Travel Demand

This year, November 6 falls on a Friday, followed by Saturday. With many offices observing a weekend holiday on Saturday, a significant number of people may choose to leave Chennai for their hometowns on Friday itself.

The combination of the Diwali festival, weekend holidays and increased demand for travel is expected to put additional pressure on trains operating from Chennai towards southern Tamil Nadu and other major destinations.

WiWith Diwali 2026 train ticket booking set to begin, passengers should check their exact reservation date, keep their journey details ready and book early to improve their chances of getting confirmed seats.