World · South & Central Asia · 19 hrs ago
Festival travel crowds push migrants to buses and an auto-rickshaw to reach Bihar
Ahead of Deepavali and Chhath, migrants are travelling to Bihar to celebrate with their families.
Four men travelled about 2,200 kilometres from Bengaluru to Areraj in an old auto-rickshaw, arriving after three days because flights were too costly and trains were full.
The men said they had no room on trains, even though special services were announced for festival travel.
In neighbouring Jharkhand, bus operators have increased daily services from Jamshedpur to Bihar from 85 to 105, but say demand remains unmet.
Buses are a key option as train reservations run out, while some travellers are paying high airfares or booking months ahead.
Chhath runs from November 13 to 16, and Bihar’s chief minister has ordered round-the-clock police vigilance and cancelled officers’ leave until November 17.
Festival travel demand has crowded Bihar-bound trains and pushed migrants toward buses and other ways of getting home.
Four men travelled about 2,200 km from Bengaluru to Areraj in Bihar in an old auto-rickshaw, arriving after three days.
They said high airfares and full train reservations left them with few options as they sought to celebrate Deepavali and Chhath with family.
Bus operators in Jharkhand added services, but said demand remained unmet.
Bihar’s chief minister directed police to stay vigilant for migrants’ safe return, and police leave was cancelled until November 17.
- Who
- Migrants travelling to Bihar for the festivals, including four men from Bengaluru.
- What
- Crowded trains and high airfares are leading people to travel by bus and other means, including an old auto-rickshaw.
- When
- Ahead of Deepavali and Chhath in 2026. Chhath begins on November 13 and continues until November 16.
- Where
- Travellers are heading to Bihar from places including Bengaluru and Jharkhand.
- Why
- They want to celebrate the festivals with family, while airfares are high and train reservations are full.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Four men from Bengaluru arrived in Areraj after travelling about 2,200 km by auto-rickshaw over three days.
The Chhath festival is scheduled to take place.
Police leave in Bihar was cancelled as officials were directed to remain vigilant for migrants’ safe return.
- Auto-rickshaw journey
- About 2,200 km from Bengaluru to Areraj
- Journey time
- Three days
- Jamshedpur buses to Bihar
- Increased from 85 to 105 daily
- Chhath festival
- November 13–16, 2026
- Police leave
- Cancelled until November 17
What people are saying
desire to celebrate Deepavali and Chhath festival along with family members
no-room available
The demand for additional busses are strong for places like Patna, Chhapra, Siwan, Ara, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Nawada and Nalanda
As far as I remember, every year, during this festival time of Diwali and Chhath the ticket prices in flights go manifold and train charts show no-room availability... it’s been going on for long with the same scene of crowded trains and buses reaching the State capital, but no government could do anything on this, except announcing more trains on some routes