Maha Shivaratri 1976
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:22
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:46 – 00:34
- Fasting window (tithi)01:51 → 1976-02-29 · 03:11
- Parana (tithi ends)03:111976-02-29
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 1976
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1976
- Vasant Panchami — 5 February 1976
- Holika Dahan — 15 March 1976
- Holi — 16 March 1976
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 31 March 1976
- Ram Navami — 8 April 1976
- Akshaya Tritiya — 2 May 1976
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 29 June 1976
- Guru Purnima — 11 July 1976
- Nag Panchami — 31 July 1976
- Raksha Bandhan — 9 August 1976
- Krishna Janmashtami — 17 August 1976
- Hartalika Teej — 28 August 1976
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 28 August 1976
- Anant Chaturdashi — 7 September 1976
- Pitru Paksha begins — 9 September 1976
- Sharad Navratri begins — 24 September 1976
- Durga Ashtami — 30 September 1976
- Maha Navami — 1 October 1976
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 2 October 1976
- Karwa Chauth — 12 October 1976
- Dhanteras — 21 October 1976
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 22 October 1976
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 22 October 1976
- Govardhan Puja — 24 October 1976
- Bhai Dooj — 24 October 1976
- Chhath Puja — 28 October 1976
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 6 November 1976
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 6 November 1976
- Hindu Festivals 1976 →