Chhath & Diwali Rush: 2 Puja Special Trains to Link Rajasthan and Patna

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-11-07 18:51:00

As millions of migrant workers, students, and families prepare to journey home to celebrate the upcoming festivals of Deepawali and Chhath Puja, Indian Railways has launched targeted festival special services to ease travel demand across northern and eastern corridors. Operating under the administrative jurisdiction of the Danapur Railway Division in the East Central Railway (ECR) zone, railway authorities have approved the operation of two pairs of Puja special trains connecting major travel hubs in Rajasthan with Patna Junction via Ara Junction. These special rail services will provide travel alternatives for long-distance passengers heading toward Bhojpur, Buxar, Patna, and surrounding central Bihar districts, helping ease the heavy rush on regular express routes.

Navigating the Festive Surge: ECR and NWR Introduce Strategic Services

The demand for train berths between Rajasthan and Bihar increases significantly during the festive months of October and November. Industrial centers and coaching hubs across Rajasthan—including Jaipur, Bikaner, Sikar, and Hanumangarh—are home to thousands of Bihari migrants who travel home annually for the sacred four-day Chhath Mahaparva.

With waitlists on regular long-distance trains climbing into the triple digits, the East Central Railway and North Western Railway (NWR) coordinated efforts to deploy dedicated festival rakes. By scheduling these services through the high-density rail artery via Ara Junction, railway planners aim to ease congestion across major junction platforms while ensuring reliable connections for tier-two and rural commuters returning to their native villages.

Schedule & Halts: Khatipura-Patna Puja Special (Train No. 09715 / 09716)

The first dedicated pair will run between Khatipura (a major satellite terminal serving Jaipur) and Patna Junction, offering four weekly round trips throughout November:

Outward Journey (Train No. 09715): The Khatipura–Patna Puja Special will depart Khatipura every Monday at 12:00 noon, running from November 9 through November 30, 2026. The train will travel overnight across Uttar Pradesh, arriving at Ara Junction at 8:30 AM the following morning (Tuesday), before reaching its final stop at Patna Junction at 10:30 AM.

Return Journey (Train No. 09716): On the return run, the Patna–Khatipura Puja Special will leave Patna Junction every Tuesday at 12:00 noon, operating from November 10 through December 1, 2026. It will make a scheduled commercial halt at Ara Junction at 12:50 PM, continuing overnight across northern plains to arrive at Khatipura at 9:25 AM on Wednesday morning.

Direct Agrarian Link: Hanumangarh-Patna Special Service

The second special service will connect north-western Rajasthan directly with central Bihar, serving agrarian communities and agricultural workers traveling between the two regions:

Outward Run: The Hanumangarh–Patna Puja Special is scheduled to depart Hanumangarh Junction every Wednesday at 10:30 AM between November 11 and November 25, 2026. Traversing the northern plains through desert and agricultural heartlands, the train is scheduled to pull into Patna Junction at 7:30 PM on Thursday evening.

Return Run: For the return journey from Bihar, the Patna–Hanumangarh Puja Special will leave Patna Junction every Thursday night at 10:00 PM, running from November 12 to November 26, 2026. After stopping at Ara Junction, it will travel west across Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, reaching Hanumangarh at 9:00 AM on Saturday morning.

This service offers a direct rail link for passengers residing in the northern desert districts of Hanumangarh and Ganganagar who would otherwise have to take multiple connecting trains via New Delhi.

Broad Route Network: Key Stops Across Rajasthan and UP

To maximize connectivity for passengers across both regions, the railway board has mapped these Puja specials through key junctions across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar:

Rajasthan Corridor: Originating terminals will connect passengers via key junctions including Bikaner, Churu, Sikar, Jaipur, and Bharatpur, serving several cultural and industrial centers in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Transit: In UP, the trains will provide connectivity through major interchange hubs such as Tundla, Prayagraj, and Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Junction (DDU).

Bihar Entryway: Upon crossing the Karamnasa river into Bihar, the rakes will make commercial stops at Buxar, Ara Junction, and Danapur before completing their journeys at Patna Junction.

This route selection is designed to ease travel for passengers traveling to both urban centers and rural destinations across the Bhojpur plain.

Expanding Rail Capacity for Festival Travellers

The launch of these two pairs of festival special trains reflects Indian Railways' efforts to manage seasonal travel peaks through targeted scheduling. By deploying dedicated rakes and coordinating between the Danapur and North Western divisions, authorities aim to make festive journeys smoother for thousands of passengers returning to Bihar for Diwali and Chhath Puja.

Passengers are advised to verify seat availability, reservation categories, and confirmed halt timings on the official IRCTC booking portal or via the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) mobile application before planning their journeys.

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