Maha Shivaratri 2011
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:20
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:46 – 00:34
- Fasting window (tithi)21:53 → 2011-03-04 · 00:00
- Parana (tithi ends)00:002011-03-04
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 2011
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2011
- Vasant Panchami — 8 February 2011
- Holika Dahan — 19 March 2011
- Holi — 20 March 2011
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 4 April 2011
- Ram Navami — 12 April 2011
- Akshaya Tritiya — 6 May 2011
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 3 July 2011
- Guru Purnima — 15 July 2011
- Nag Panchami — 4 August 2011
- Raksha Bandhan — 13 August 2011
- Krishna Janmashtami — 21 August 2011
- Hartalika Teej — 31 August 2011
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 1 September 2011
- Anant Chaturdashi — 11 September 2011
- Pitru Paksha begins — 13 September 2011
- Sharad Navratri begins — 28 September 2011
- Durga Ashtami — 4 October 2011
- Maha Navami — 5 October 2011
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 6 October 2011
- Karwa Chauth — 15 October 2011
- Dhanteras — 24 October 2011
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 25 October 2011
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 26 October 2011
- Govardhan Puja — 27 October 2011
- Bhai Dooj — 28 October 2011
- Chhath Puja — 1 November 2011
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 10 November 2011
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 10 November 2011
- Hindu Festivals 2011 →