Maha Shivaratri 2006
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:24
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:46 – 00:34
- Fasting window (tithi)13:29 → 2006-02-27 · 09:49
- Parana (tithi ends)09:492006-02-27
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 2006
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2006
- Vasant Panchami — 2 February 2006
- Holika Dahan — 14 March 2006
- Holi — 15 March 2006
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 30 March 2006
- Ram Navami — 6 April 2006
- Akshaya Tritiya — 30 April 2006
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 27 June 2006
- Guru Purnima — 11 July 2006
- Nag Panchami — 30 July 2006
- Raksha Bandhan — 9 August 2006
- Krishna Janmashtami — 15 August 2006
- Hartalika Teej — 27 August 2006
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 27 August 2006
- Anant Chaturdashi — 6 September 2006
- Pitru Paksha begins — 8 September 2006
- Sharad Navratri begins — 23 September 2006
- Durga Ashtami — 30 September 2006
- Maha Navami — 1 October 2006
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 2 October 2006
- Karwa Chauth — 10 October 2006
- Dhanteras — 19 October 2006
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 20 October 2006
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 21 October 2006
- Govardhan Puja — 23 October 2006
- Bhai Dooj — 24 October 2006
- Chhath Puja — 28 October 2006
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 5 November 2006
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 5 November 2006
- Hindu Festivals 2006 →