Maha Shivaratri 2009
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:26
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)04:25 → 2009-02-24 · 06:02
- Parana (tithi ends)06:022009-02-24
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 2009
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2009
- Vasant Panchami — 31 January 2009
- Holika Dahan — 10 March 2009
- Holi — 12 March 2009
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 27 March 2009
- Ram Navami — 3 April 2009
- Akshaya Tritiya — 27 April 2009
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 24 June 2009
- Guru Purnima — 7 July 2009
- Nag Panchami — 26 July 2009
- Raksha Bandhan — 5 August 2009
- Krishna Janmashtami — 13 August 2009
- Hartalika Teej — 23 August 2009
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 23 August 2009
- Anant Chaturdashi — 3 September 2009
- Pitru Paksha begins — 5 September 2009
- Sharad Navratri begins — 19 September 2009
- Durga Ashtami — 26 September 2009
- Maha Navami — 27 September 2009
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 28 September 2009
- Karwa Chauth — 7 October 2009
- Dhanteras — 15 October 2009
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 17 October 2009
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 17 October 2009
- Govardhan Puja — 19 October 2009
- Bhai Dooj — 20 October 2009
- Chhath Puja — 24 October 2009
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 2 November 2009
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 2 November 2009
- Hindu Festivals 2009 →