Maha Shivaratri 1985
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:31
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)22:31 → 1985-02-18 · 23:09
- Parana (tithi ends)23:091985-02-18
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 1985
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1985
- Vasant Panchami — 26 January 1985
- Holika Dahan — 6 March 1985
- Holi — 7 March 1985
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 22 March 1985
- Ram Navami — 30 March 1985
- Akshaya Tritiya — 23 April 1985
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 20 June 1985
- Guru Purnima — 2 July 1985
- Nag Panchami — 20 August 1985
- Raksha Bandhan — 30 August 1985
- Krishna Janmashtami — 7 September 1985
- Hartalika Teej — 17 September 1985
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 18 September 1985
- Anant Chaturdashi — 27 September 1985
- Pitru Paksha begins — 29 September 1985
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 1985
- Durga Ashtami — 21 October 1985
- Maha Navami — 22 October 1985
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 22 October 1985
- Karwa Chauth — 1 November 1985
- Dhanteras — 10 November 1985
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 11 November 1985
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 1985
- Govardhan Puja — 13 November 1985
- Bhai Dooj — 14 November 1985
- Chhath Puja — 17 November 1985
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 27 November 1985
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 27 November 1985
- Hindu Festivals 1985 →