Maha Shivaratri 1963
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:27
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)12:19 → 1963-02-23 · 10:13
- Parana (tithi ends)10:131963-02-23
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 1963
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1963
- Vasant Panchami — 30 January 1963
- Holika Dahan — 9 March 1963
- Holi — 11 March 1963
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 26 March 1963
- Ram Navami — 2 April 1963
- Akshaya Tritiya — 26 April 1963
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 23 June 1963
- Guru Purnima — 6 July 1963
- Nag Panchami — 25 July 1963
- Raksha Bandhan — 5 August 1963
- Hartalika Teej — 22 August 1963
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 23 August 1963
- Anant Chaturdashi — 2 September 1963
- Pitru Paksha begins — 4 September 1963
- Sharad Navratri begins — 18 September 1963
- Durga Ashtami — 26 September 1963
- Maha Navami — 27 September 1963
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 28 September 1963
- Hindu Festivals 1963 →