Maha Shivaratri 1968
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:24
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:46 – 00:34
- Fasting window (tithi)12:56 → 1968-02-27 · 12:26
- Parana (tithi ends)12:261968-02-27
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 1968
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1968
- Vasant Panchami — 3 February 1968
- Holika Dahan — 14 March 1968
- Holi — 15 March 1968
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 29 March 1968
- Ram Navami — 7 April 1968
- Akshaya Tritiya — 30 April 1968
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 28 June 1968
- Guru Purnima — 10 July 1968
- Nag Panchami — 30 July 1968
- Raksha Bandhan — 8 August 1968
- Krishna Janmashtami — 15 August 1968
- Hartalika Teej — 26 August 1968
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 27 August 1968
- Anant Chaturdashi — 5 September 1968
- Pitru Paksha begins — 7 September 1968
- Sharad Navratri begins — 23 September 1968
- Durga Ashtami — 29 September 1968
- Maha Navami — 30 September 1968
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 1 October 1968
- Karwa Chauth — 10 October 1968
- Dhanteras — 19 October 1968
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 21 October 1968
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 21 October 1968
- Govardhan Puja — 22 October 1968
- Bhai Dooj — 23 October 1968
- Chhath Puja — 27 October 1968
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 5 November 1968
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 5 November 1968
- Hindu Festivals 1968 →