Return Rush After Diwali and Chhath: Booking the Way Back
Booking the return leg after Diwali and Chhath 2026: why it is harder, which Bihar to Delhi trains to compare, Tatkal timing and what to do when you are waitlisted.
TrainLiveStatus Desk · Updated · 4 min read
Most people who travel home for Diwali and Chhath do not think about the return until the week before. By then the seats on the popular trains are often gone. The return leg is worth booking on the same day as the outbound, and this guide shows how to compare the options and what to do if your return is waitlisted.
Why the return is the harder leg
Chhath falls about a week after Diwali, and by our estimate the main Chhath days fall around 13 to 16 November 2026. Those dates are not confirmed, so check the festival calendar for your own region. What matters for booking is that many travellers head back within the same few days, so the return trains fill quickly, especially on the first days after the festival.
If you are returning after Chhath, look at the days either side of your planned date before you settle on one. A train one day earlier or later can have a very different waiting list, and the planner shows that difference for each day.
Book the return date the day you book the outbound
Reserved tickets open 60 days before the journey date, excluding the travel day. The count runs from each date, so the return opens on its own schedule, not on the day your outbound opens. A return on 17 November opened on 18 September, which means it is already bookable now. If you wait to book the return until you are back in Bihar, the date may already be full.
Our ARP guide shows how the window works for any date, and the Chhath return leg guide covers the same corridor from a Chhath point of view.
Trains from Bihar to Delhi to compare
The table lists the daily services from Bihar towards New Delhi in our timetable. The journey time is from our timetable record, so check the train page for live timing before you travel.
| Train | Boards at | Runs | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12309 RJPB Tejas Rajdhani | Rajendra Nagar Terminal (RJPB) | Daily | 12h 30m |
| 12393 S Kranti SUP Express | Rajendra Nagar Terminal (RJPB) | Daily | 12h 35m |
| 22361 Amrit Bharat Express | Rajendra Nagar Terminal (RJPB) | Daily | 17h 20m |
| 12565 Bihar S Kranti | Darbhanga Junction (DBG) | Daily | 20h 50m |
| 20801 Magadh Express | Islampur (IPR) | Daily | 20h 30m |
| 12391 Shramjeevi Express | Rajgir (RGD) | Daily | 20h 55m |
| 15565 Vaishali Express | Lalitgram (LLP) | Daily | 26h 30m |
A daily train is not a guaranteed seat. Compare the trains on the same day, because a train that is full on the 16th may still have seats on the 17th, and a station a short drive away may have a shorter waiting list. Our Samastipur Junction and Patna Junction pages list the other trains that call there.
Pick the boarding station, not just the train
You can book from any station on a train's route, so a later boarding point may suit you better. Patna, Samastipur and Darbhanga each have trains towards Delhi, though not the same ones. Which one is easiest to reach depends on where you are coming from in Bihar, so check the list for each one in the planner before you pay.
Once you hold a confirmed or RAC ticket, you can change the boarding point once, up to 30 minutes before departure, under rules in force since 1 April 2026. Waitlisted tickets cannot change it. See the alternate boarding stations guide for the full rule.
If your return is waitlisted
A waitlist is not a refusal. Follow these steps in order:
- Check the confirmation chances in the trip planner for each train on the same day.
- Book a backup train on a different departure time, even if it is slower.
- Look at the next day and the nearest alternate boarding station on the same train.
- If a Tatkal seat is your last option, remember that Tatkal opens one day before the journey. For a return on 16 November, the window is 15 November, at 10:00 IST for AC classes and 11:00 IST for non-AC.
Tatkal requires Aadhaar-based OTP authentication, online, at a counter or through an agent. A confirmed Tatkal seat gets no refund if you cancel it, and a Tatkal ticket still waitlisted at chart preparation is cancelled automatically. Read Tatkal cancellation and refund rules before you rely on it.
If plans change: refund bands
If you cancel a confirmed ticket, the amount deducted depends on how long before departure you cancel. The bands for confirmed tickets from April 2026 are:
| Cancelled before departure | Deduction on a confirmed ticket |
|---|---|
| More than 72 hours | Only a flat fee per passenger |
| 72 to 24 hours | 25% deducted |
| 24 to 8 hours | 50% deducted |
| Less than 8 hours | No refund |
These bands apply to confirmed tickets. Tatkal tickets follow their own rules, and the flat fee and charges are shown by IRCTC when you cancel.
Return checklist
- Book the return on the same day as the outbound, and note its window date.
- Shortlist three trains from the same station on the same day.
- Choose one alternate boarding station on the same route.
- Set a reminder for the Tatkal opening time on the day before travel.
- On the day of the journey, check the train page for live running status before you leave.
When can you book your ticket?
Uses the 60-day advance booking window (journey day not counted) and the Tatkal opening times (10:00 AC, 11:00 non-AC, one day before). On the day booking opens, only Aadhaar-verified IRCTC users can book online between 08:00 and midnight. Check IRCTC if a rule changes.
Use it on your trip
Frequently asked questions
Is the return leg after Diwali and Chhath harder to book than the outbound?
Often, yes. Many travellers head back within the same few days, so the return trains fill quickly. Booking the return on the same day as the outbound gives you the best chance of a confirmed seat.
How far ahead can I book a return ticket?
The window is 60 days before the return date, excluding the travel day, at 8:00 am IST. A return on 17 November opened on 18 September, so mid-November returns are bookable now.
What if my return ticket is still waitlisted?
Check confirmation chances for other trains on the same day, consider a nearby boarding station, and keep Tatkal as a last option. A waitlisted ticket still waiting at chart preparation is cancelled and refunded, less any applicable charges.
Can I change where I board on my return journey?
Yes, but only if the ticket is confirmed or RAC, and only once, up to 30 minutes before departure. Waitlisted tickets cannot change their boarding point.
Sources
Rules and fares change. Check the official source before you travel. Last reviewed 28 October 2026.
