Indian Railways has announced additional special trains, including Vande Bharat services, to help pilgrims and travellers during Chhath Puja 2026. The festival begins on 13 November with Nahay-Khay and ends on 16 November with the morning offering to the rising sun.

This year’s celebrations include four days of religious observance: Nahay-Khay on 13 November, Kharna on 14 November (a day-long fast broken in the evening), Arghya on 15 November (offering to the setting sun), and the final morning offering on 16 November.

Multiple regular trains already operate between Prayagraj and Patna, but extra services have been introduced to manage increased demand. These include Vande Bharat Special (02252/02251), which runs between New Delhi and Patna via Prayagraj Junction; Patna Festival Special (04088), connecting Prayagraj Junction with Patna Junction; Patliputra Festival Special (04096), running from Prayagraj Junction to Patliputra; and Anand Vihar-Patna Special (03294), operating via Subedarganj/Prayagraj.

Other special trains include the Amrit Bharat Express (22362), which takes passengers to Patna via Subedarganj/Prayagraj.

Travellers are advised to check seat availability on these special trains as demand is expected to be high during the festival period. As of 1 PM on November 9, 2026, no seats are available in the Poorva Express.

Special train timings can change, so it is best to verify the latest timetable, stoppages, and seat availability from the official IRCTC portal before booking.