Maha Shivaratri 1940
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:14
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:44 – 00:32
- Fasting window (tithi)02:49 → 1940-03-08 · 05:16
- Parana (tithi ends)05:161940-03-08
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Maha Shivaratri puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaMaha Shivaratri — Frequently Asked Questions
Should one stay awake all night on Maha Shivaratri?
Yes — the jagaran is the observance, not an addition to it. The complete form performs an abhishek in each of the night's four prahars, with water, curd, ghee and honey in turn.
What must not be offered to a Shiva lingam?
Tulsi, ketaki flowers, turmeric and coconut water are all avoided. Bilva leaves, water, milk, bhang, dhatura and white flowers are offered.
When is the Shivaratri fast broken?
The next morning, after sunrise, and traditionally after the Chaturdashi tithi has ended — not at midnight after the puja.
Other major festivals in 1940
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1940
- Vasant Panchami — 13 February 1940
- Holika Dahan — 23 March 1940
- Holi — 24 March 1940
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 8 April 1940
- Ram Navami — 16 April 1940
- Akshaya Tritiya — 10 May 1940
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 7 July 1940
- Guru Purnima — 19 July 1940
- Nag Panchami — 8 August 1940
- Raksha Bandhan — 17 August 1940
- Krishna Janmashtami — 25 August 1940
- Hartalika Teej — 4 September 1940
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 5 September 1940
- Anant Chaturdashi — 15 September 1940
- Pitru Paksha begins — 17 September 1940
- Sharad Navratri begins — 2 October 1940
- Durga Ashtami — 8 October 1940
- Maha Navami — 9 October 1940
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 10 October 1940
- Karwa Chauth — 20 October 1940
- Dhanteras — 28 October 1940
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 30 October 1940
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 30 October 1940
- Govardhan Puja — 31 October 1940
- Bhai Dooj — 1 November 1940
- Chhath Puja — 5 November 1940
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 14 November 1940
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 14 November 1940
- Hindu Festivals 1940 →