Maha Shivaratri 1966
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:30
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)11:21 → 1966-02-19 · 13:52
- Parana (tithi ends)13:521966-02-19
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 1966
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1966
- Vasant Panchami — 27 January 1966
- Holika Dahan — 6 March 1966
- Holi — 7 March 1966
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 23 March 1966
- Ram Navami — 31 March 1966
- Akshaya Tritiya — 23 April 1966
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 20 June 1966
- Guru Purnima — 2 July 1966
- Nag Panchami — 20 August 1966
- Raksha Bandhan — 30 August 1966
- Krishna Janmashtami — 7 September 1966
- Hartalika Teej — 17 September 1966
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 18 September 1966
- Anant Chaturdashi — 28 September 1966
- Pitru Paksha begins — 30 September 1966
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 1966
- Durga Ashtami — 21 October 1966
- Maha Navami — 22 October 1966
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 23 October 1966
- Karwa Chauth — 1 November 1966
- Dhanteras — 10 November 1966
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 11 November 1966
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 1966
- Govardhan Puja — 13 November 1966
- Bhai Dooj — 14 November 1966
- Chhath Puja — 18 November 1966
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 1966
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 1966
- Hindu Festivals 1966 →