Maha Shivaratri 1977
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:32
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)11:16 → 1977-02-17 · 09:58
- Parana (tithi ends)09:581977-02-17
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 1977
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1977
- Vasant Panchami — 24 January 1977
- Holika Dahan — 5 March 1977
- Holi — 6 March 1977
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 20 March 1977
- Ram Navami — 29 March 1977
- Akshaya Tritiya — 21 April 1977
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 18 June 1977
- Guru Purnima — 1 July 1977
- Nag Panchami — 19 August 1977
- Raksha Bandhan — 28 August 1977
- Krishna Janmashtami — 5 September 1977
- Hartalika Teej — 16 September 1977
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 16 September 1977
- Anant Chaturdashi — 26 September 1977
- Pitru Paksha begins — 28 September 1977
- Sharad Navratri begins — 13 October 1977
- Durga Ashtami — 19 October 1977
- Maha Navami — 20 October 1977
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 21 October 1977
- Karwa Chauth — 30 October 1977
- Dhanteras — 9 November 1977
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 10 November 1977
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 10 November 1977
- Govardhan Puja — 12 November 1977
- Bhai Dooj — 12 November 1977
- Chhath Puja — 16 November 1977
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 25 November 1977
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 25 November 1977
- Hindu Festivals 1977 →