Maha Shivaratri 2008
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:16
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:44 – 00:32
- Fasting window (tithi)01:30 → 2008-03-07 · 00:24
- Parana (tithi ends)00:242008-03-07
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 2008
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2008
- Vasant Panchami — 11 February 2008
- Holika Dahan — 21 March 2008
- Holi — 22 March 2008
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 7 April 2008
- Ram Navami — 13 April 2008
- Akshaya Tritiya — 7 May 2008
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 4 July 2008
- Guru Purnima — 18 July 2008
- Nag Panchami — 6 August 2008
- Raksha Bandhan — 16 August 2008
- Krishna Janmashtami — 23 August 2008
- Hartalika Teej — 2 September 2008
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 3 September 2008
- Anant Chaturdashi — 14 September 2008
- Pitru Paksha begins — 16 September 2008
- Sharad Navratri begins — 30 September 2008
- Durga Ashtami — 7 October 2008
- Maha Navami — 8 October 2008
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 9 October 2008
- Karwa Chauth — 17 October 2008
- Dhanteras — 26 October 2008
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 27 October 2008
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 28 October 2008
- Govardhan Puja — 29 October 2008
- Bhai Dooj — 31 October 2008
- Chhath Puja — 4 November 2008
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 13 November 2008
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 13 November 2008
- Hindu Festivals 2008 →