Maha Shivaratri 2004
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)18:43 → 2004-02-19 · 16:34
- Parana (tithi ends)16:342004-02-19
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 2004
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2004
- Vasant Panchami — 26 January 2004
- Holika Dahan — 6 March 2004
- Holi — 7 March 2004
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 21 March 2004
- Ram Navami — 30 March 2004
- Akshaya Tritiya — 22 April 2004
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 19 June 2004
- Guru Purnima — 2 July 2004
- Nag Panchami — 21 August 2004
- Raksha Bandhan — 30 August 2004
- Krishna Janmashtami — 6 September 2004
- Hartalika Teej — 17 September 2004
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 18 September 2004
- Anant Chaturdashi — 27 September 2004
- Pitru Paksha begins — 29 September 2004
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 2004
- Durga Ashtami — 21 October 2004
- Maha Navami — 22 October 2004
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 22 October 2004
- Karwa Chauth — 31 October 2004
- Dhanteras — 10 November 2004
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 11 November 2004
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 2004
- Govardhan Puja — 13 November 2004
- Bhai Dooj — 14 November 2004
- Chhath Puja — 17 November 2004
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 26 November 2004
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 26 November 2004
- Hindu Festivals 2004 →