Maha Shivaratri 1998
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:25
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:46 – 00:34
- Fasting window (tithi)05:03 → 1998-02-26 · 02:11
- Parana (tithi ends)02:111998-02-26
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 1998
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1998
- Vasant Panchami — 1 February 1998
- Holika Dahan — 12 March 1998
- Holi — 14 March 1998
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 28 March 1998
- Ram Navami — 5 April 1998
- Akshaya Tritiya — 28 April 1998
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 26 June 1998
- Guru Purnima — 9 July 1998
- Nag Panchami — 28 July 1998
- Raksha Bandhan — 8 August 1998
- Krishna Janmashtami — 14 August 1998
- Hartalika Teej — 25 August 1998
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 26 August 1998
- Anant Chaturdashi — 5 September 1998
- Pitru Paksha begins — 7 September 1998
- Sharad Navratri begins — 21 September 1998
- Durga Ashtami — 29 September 1998
- Maha Navami — 30 September 1998
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 1 October 1998
- Karwa Chauth — 8 October 1998
- Dhanteras — 17 October 1998
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 19 October 1998
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 19 October 1998
- Govardhan Puja — 21 October 1998
- Bhai Dooj — 22 October 1998
- Chhath Puja — 26 October 1998
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 4 November 1998
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 4 November 1998
- Hindu Festivals 1998 →