Maha Shivaratri 1981
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:18
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:45 – 00:33
- Fasting window (tithi)20:32 → 1981-03-05 · 18:32
- Parana (tithi ends)18:321981-03-05
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 1981
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1981
- Vasant Panchami — 9 February 1981
- Holika Dahan — 20 March 1981
- Holi — 21 March 1981
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 5 April 1981
- Ram Navami — 12 April 1981
- Akshaya Tritiya — 6 May 1981
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 3 July 1981
- Guru Purnima — 17 July 1981
- Nag Panchami — 5 August 1981
- Raksha Bandhan — 15 August 1981
- Krishna Janmashtami — 22 August 1981
- Hartalika Teej — 1 September 1981
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 2 September 1981
- Anant Chaturdashi — 13 September 1981
- Pitru Paksha begins — 15 September 1981
- Sharad Navratri begins — 29 September 1981
- Durga Ashtami — 6 October 1981
- Maha Navami — 7 October 1981
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 8 October 1981
- Karwa Chauth — 16 October 1981
- Dhanteras — 25 October 1981
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 26 October 1981
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 27 October 1981
- Govardhan Puja — 28 October 1981
- Bhai Dooj — 29 October 1981
- Chhath Puja — 3 November 1981
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 11 November 1981
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 11 November 1981
- Hindu Festivals 1981 →