Maha Shivaratri 2010
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:35
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:48 – 00:36
- Fasting window (tithi)03:02 → 2010-02-13 · 05:46
- Parana (tithi ends)05:462010-02-13
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 2010
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2010
- Vasant Panchami — 20 January 2010
- Holika Dahan — 28 February 2010
- Holi — 1 March 2010
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 16 March 2010
- Ram Navami — 24 March 2010
- Akshaya Tritiya — 16 May 2010
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 13 July 2010
- Guru Purnima — 25 July 2010
- Nag Panchami — 14 August 2010
- Raksha Bandhan — 24 August 2010
- Krishna Janmashtami — 1 September 2010
- Hartalika Teej — 10 September 2010
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 11 September 2010
- Anant Chaturdashi — 22 September 2010
- Pitru Paksha begins — 24 September 2010
- Sharad Navratri begins — 8 October 2010
- Durga Ashtami — 15 October 2010
- Maha Navami — 16 October 2010
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 17 October 2010
- Karwa Chauth — 26 October 2010
- Dhanteras — 3 November 2010
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 5 November 2010
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 5 November 2010
- Govardhan Puja — 7 November 2010
- Bhai Dooj — 8 November 2010
- Chhath Puja — 11 November 2010
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 21 November 2010
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 21 November 2010
- Hindu Festivals 2010 →