Ganpati Festival 2025: Konkan Railway Bookings Open from June 23 – Reserve Early to Celebrate at Home

As the excitement builds for this year’s Ganesh Chaturthi, it’s time for countless Konkan natives living in cities to prepare for their annual homecoming. Lord Ganesha will be welcomed into homes on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, and for many, that means finalizing travel plans well in advance to make it home for the celebrations.

Every year, there’s a massive rush of people—popularly known as chakarmani—heading back to their hometowns in Konkan for this deeply cherished festival. With tickets getting snapped up the moment they’re available, regular train bookings on the Konkan Railway will open from Sunday, June 23, exactly 60 days prior to the travel date, as per standard railway rules.

Key Dates to Know: Reservation vs Travel

While Ganesh Chaturthi falls on August 27, the busiest travel days will be Monday, August 25 and Tuesday, August 26, as most travelers prefer reaching a day or two early. Here’s a quick look at the travel-reservation calendar:

Reservation Date Travel Date

June 23 (Sun) August 22 (Fri)

June 24 (Mon) August 23 (Sat)

June 25 (Tue) August 24 (Sun)

June 26 (Wed) August 25 (Mon)

June 27 (Thu) August 26 (Tue) – Hartalika

June 28 (Fri) August 27 (Wed) – Ganesh Chaturthi

June 29 (Sat) August 28 (Thu) – Rishi Panchami

June 30 (Sun) August 29 (Fri)

July 1 (Mon) August 30 (Sat)

July 2 (Tue) August 31 (Sun) – Gauri Aagman

July 3 (Wed) September 1 (Mon) – Gauri Pujan

July 4 (Thu) September 2 (Tue) – Gauri Ganpati

This year, the festive calendar has shifted forward compared to last year, when Ganpati arrived on September 7, 2024. With the 2025 celebrations falling 12 days earlier, the advance planning window has moved accordingly.

Trains Fill Up in Minutes – What You Should Know

As seen in past years, Konkan Railway trains get fully booked within minutes of reservations opening. The Ganpati rush is unlike any other, and railway authorities are well aware of the demand. To manage the huge number of passengers, Central Railway is expected to operate over 250 special trains again this year on the Konkan route—similar to last year’s effort, which included support from Western Railway and over 2000 extra State Transport buses deployed by the ST Corporation.

With the Mumbai-Goa highway still facing poor road conditions, the preference for train travel has only grown stronger. Trains remain the most reliable and comfortable way to reach the Konkan coast during the monsoon and festive season.

Monsoon Timetable Now in Effect

It’s also important to note that the Konkan Railway has implemented its annual monsoon timetable. Train speeds are reduced during this period for safety reasons, and the modified schedule will remain active for about four months. To ensure smooth and secure train operations, more than 600 staff members have been assigned to patrol and monitor vulnerable locations along the route.

Plan Smart, Travel Safe – Let Ganpati Bappa Guide Your Journey!

The spiritual pull of Ganesh Chaturthi brings families together like no other festival. But getting home in time takes planning. With bookings for regular trains opening soon and demand expected to skyrocket, now is the time to set a reminder, prepare your travel dates, and book the moment the window opens.