Maha Shivaratri 1959
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:15
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:44 – 00:32
- Fasting window (tithi)15:12 → 1959-03-08 · 15:33
- Parana (tithi ends)15:331959-03-08
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 1959
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1959
- Vasant Panchami — 12 February 1959
- Holika Dahan — 24 March 1959
- Holi — 25 March 1959
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 9 April 1959
- Ram Navami — 17 April 1959
- Akshaya Tritiya — 10 May 1959
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 8 July 1959
- Guru Purnima — 20 July 1959
- Nag Panchami — 9 August 1959
- Raksha Bandhan — 18 August 1959
- Krishna Janmashtami — 26 August 1959
- Hartalika Teej — 5 September 1959
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 6 September 1959
- Anant Chaturdashi — 16 September 1959
- Pitru Paksha begins — 18 September 1959
- Sharad Navratri begins — 3 October 1959
- Durga Ashtami — 9 October 1959
- Maha Navami — 10 October 1959
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 11 October 1959
- Karwa Chauth — 20 October 1959
- Dhanteras — 29 October 1959
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 31 October 1959
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 31 October 1959
- Govardhan Puja — 1 November 1959
- Bhai Dooj — 2 November 1959
- Chhath Puja — 6 November 1959
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 15 November 1959
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 15 November 1959
- Hindu Festivals 1959 →