Maha Shivaratri 1950
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:32
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)04:34 → 1950-02-16 · 04:14
- Parana (tithi ends)04:141950-02-16
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 1950
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1950
- Vasant Panchami — 23 January 1950
- Holika Dahan — 3 March 1950
- Holi — 5 March 1950
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 19 March 1950
- Ram Navami — 28 March 1950
- Akshaya Tritiya — 20 April 1950
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 17 July 1950
- Guru Purnima — 29 July 1950
- Nag Panchami — 18 August 1950
- Raksha Bandhan — 27 August 1950
- Krishna Janmashtami — 4 September 1950
- Hartalika Teej — 14 September 1950
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 15 September 1950
- Anant Chaturdashi — 25 September 1950
- Pitru Paksha begins — 27 September 1950
- Sharad Navratri begins — 12 October 1950
- Durga Ashtami — 18 October 1950
- Maha Navami — 19 October 1950
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 20 October 1950
- Karwa Chauth — 29 October 1950
- Dhanteras — 7 November 1950
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 9 November 1950
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 9 November 1950
- Govardhan Puja — 10 November 1950
- Bhai Dooj — 11 November 1950
- Chhath Puja — 15 November 1950
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 24 November 1950
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 24 November 1950
- Hindu Festivals 1950 →