Maha Shivaratri 1974
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:29
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)07:08 → 1974-02-21 · 09:21
- Parana (tithi ends)09:211974-02-21
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 1974
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1974
- Vasant Panchami — 28 January 1974
- Holika Dahan — 7 March 1974
- Holi — 9 March 1974
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 24 March 1974
- Ram Navami — 1 April 1974
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 1974
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 21 June 1974
- Guru Purnima — 4 July 1974
- Nag Panchami — 23 July 1974
- Raksha Bandhan — 3 August 1974
- Krishna Janmashtami — 9 September 1974
- Hartalika Teej — 18 September 1974
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 19 September 1974
- Anant Chaturdashi — 30 September 1974
- Pitru Paksha begins — 2 October 1974
- Sharad Navratri begins — 16 October 1974
- Durga Ashtami — 23 October 1974
- Maha Navami — 24 October 1974
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 25 October 1974
- Karwa Chauth — 3 November 1974
- Dhanteras — 11 November 1974
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 1974
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 13 November 1974
- Govardhan Puja — 14 November 1974
- Bhai Dooj — 15 November 1974
- Chhath Puja — 20 November 1974
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 29 November 1974
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 29 November 1974
- Hindu Festivals 1974 →