Maha Shivaratri 1973
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:19
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:45 – 00:33
- Fasting window (tithi)06:35 → 1973-03-04 · 06:27
- Parana (tithi ends)06:271973-03-04
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 1973
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1973
- Vasant Panchami — 8 February 1973
- Holika Dahan — 18 March 1973
- Holi — 19 March 1973
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 4 April 1973
- Ram Navami — 11 April 1973
- Akshaya Tritiya — 5 May 1973
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 2 July 1973
- Guru Purnima — 15 July 1973
- Nag Panchami — 3 August 1973
- Raksha Bandhan — 14 August 1973
- Krishna Janmashtami — 21 August 1973
- Hartalika Teej — 30 August 1973
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 31 August 1973
- Anant Chaturdashi — 11 September 1973
- Pitru Paksha begins — 13 September 1973
- Sharad Navratri begins — 27 September 1973
- Durga Ashtami — 4 October 1973
- Maha Navami — 5 October 1973
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 6 October 1973
- Karwa Chauth — 15 October 1973
- Dhanteras — 23 October 1973
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 25 October 1973
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 25 October 1973
- Govardhan Puja — 27 October 1973
- Bhai Dooj — 28 October 1973
- Chhath Puja — 1 November 1973
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 10 November 1973
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 10 November 1973
- Hindu Festivals 1973 →