Maha Shivaratri 1988
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)04:53 → 1988-02-17 · 01:12
- Parana (tithi ends)01:121988-02-17
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 1988
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1988
- Vasant Panchami — 23 January 1988
- Holika Dahan — 3 March 1988
- Holi — 4 March 1988
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 18 March 1988
- Ram Navami — 26 March 1988
- Akshaya Tritiya — 19 April 1988
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 15 July 1988
- Guru Purnima — 29 July 1988
- Nag Panchami — 17 August 1988
- Raksha Bandhan — 27 August 1988
- Krishna Janmashtami — 2 September 1988
- Hartalika Teej — 14 September 1988
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 15 September 1988
- Anant Chaturdashi — 24 September 1988
- Pitru Paksha begins — 26 September 1988
- Sharad Navratri begins — 11 October 1988
- Durga Ashtami — 18 October 1988
- Maha Navami — 19 October 1988
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 20 October 1988
- Karwa Chauth — 28 October 1988
- Dhanteras — 6 November 1988
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 8 November 1988
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 9 November 1988
- Govardhan Puja — 10 November 1988
- Bhai Dooj — 11 November 1988
- Chhath Puja — 15 November 1988
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 23 November 1988
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 23 November 1988
- Hindu Festivals 1988 →