Maha Shivaratri 1978
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:15
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:44 – 00:32
- Fasting window (tithi)12:30 → 1978-03-08 · 10:09
- Parana (tithi ends)10:091978-03-08
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 1978
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1978
- Vasant Panchami — 12 February 1978
- Holika Dahan — 24 March 1978
- Holi — 25 March 1978
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 8 April 1978
- Ram Navami — 16 April 1978
- Akshaya Tritiya — 10 May 1978
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 7 July 1978
- Guru Purnima — 20 July 1978
- Nag Panchami — 9 August 1978
- Raksha Bandhan — 18 August 1978
- Krishna Janmashtami — 25 August 1978
- Hartalika Teej — 5 September 1978
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 6 September 1978
- Anant Chaturdashi — 15 September 1978
- Pitru Paksha begins — 17 September 1978
- Sharad Navratri begins — 3 October 1978
- Durga Ashtami — 9 October 1978
- Maha Navami — 10 October 1978
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 11 October 1978
- Karwa Chauth — 19 October 1978
- Dhanteras — 29 October 1978
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 30 October 1978
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 31 October 1978
- Govardhan Puja — 1 November 1978
- Bhai Dooj — 2 November 1978
- Chhath Puja — 6 November 1978
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 14 November 1978
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 14 November 1978
- Hindu Festivals 1978 →