Maha Shivaratri 1956
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:11
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:43 – 00:31
- Fasting window (tithi)17:55 → 1956-03-11 · 18:50
- Parana (tithi ends)18:501956-03-11
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 1956
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1956
- Vasant Panchami — 16 February 1956
- Holika Dahan — 26 March 1956
- Holi — 27 March 1956
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 12 April 1956
- Ram Navami — 19 April 1956
- Akshaya Tritiya — 12 May 1956
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 9 July 1956
- Guru Purnima — 22 July 1956
- Nag Panchami — 10 August 1956
- Raksha Bandhan — 21 August 1956
- Krishna Janmashtami — 28 August 1956
- Hartalika Teej — 7 September 1956
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 8 September 1956
- Anant Chaturdashi — 19 September 1956
- Pitru Paksha begins — 21 September 1956
- Sharad Navratri begins — 5 October 1956
- Durga Ashtami — 12 October 1956
- Maha Navami — 13 October 1956
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 14 October 1956
- Karwa Chauth — 22 October 1956
- Dhanteras — 31 October 1956
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 1 November 1956
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 2 November 1956
- Govardhan Puja — 3 November 1956
- Bhai Dooj — 4 November 1956
- Chhath Puja — 8 November 1956
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 18 November 1956
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 18 November 1956
- Hindu Festivals 1956 →