Maha Shivaratri 2002
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:10
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:43 – 00:31
- Fasting window (tithi)02:43 → 2002-03-13 · 05:08
- Parana (tithi ends)05:082002-03-13
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 2002
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2002
- Vasant Panchami — 17 February 2002
- Holika Dahan — 28 March 2002
- Holi — 29 March 2002
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 13 April 2002
- Ram Navami — 21 April 2002
- Akshaya Tritiya — 15 May 2002
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 12 July 2002
- Guru Purnima — 24 July 2002
- Nag Panchami — 13 August 2002
- Raksha Bandhan — 22 August 2002
- Krishna Janmashtami — 30 August 2002
- Hartalika Teej — 9 September 2002
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 10 September 2002
- Anant Chaturdashi — 20 September 2002
- Pitru Paksha begins — 22 September 2002
- Sharad Navratri begins — 7 October 2002
- Durga Ashtami — 13 October 2002
- Maha Navami — 14 October 2002
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 15 October 2002
- Karwa Chauth — 25 October 2002
- Dhanteras — 2 November 2002
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 3 November 2002
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 4 November 2002
- Govardhan Puja — 5 November 2002
- Bhai Dooj — 6 November 2002
- Chhath Puja — 10 November 2002
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 19 November 2002
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 19 November 2002
- Hindu Festivals 2002 →