Maha Shivaratri 2014
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:23
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:46 – 00:34
- Fasting window (tithi)20:17 → 2014-02-28 · 16:49
- Parana (tithi ends)16:492014-02-28
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 2014
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2014
- Vasant Panchami — 4 February 2014
- Holika Dahan — 16 March 2014
- Holi — 17 March 2014
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 31 March 2014
- Ram Navami — 8 April 2014
- Akshaya Tritiya — 1 May 2014
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 29 June 2014
- Guru Purnima — 12 July 2014
- Nag Panchami — 1 August 2014
- Raksha Bandhan — 10 August 2014
- Krishna Janmashtami — 17 August 2014
- Hartalika Teej — 28 August 2014
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 29 August 2014
- Anant Chaturdashi — 8 September 2014
- Pitru Paksha begins — 9 September 2014
- Sharad Navratri begins — 25 September 2014
- Durga Ashtami — 2 October 2014
- Maha Navami — 3 October 2014
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 3 October 2014
- Karwa Chauth — 11 October 2014
- Dhanteras — 21 October 2014
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 22 October 2014
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 23 October 2014
- Govardhan Puja — 24 October 2014
- Bhai Dooj — 25 October 2014
- Chhath Puja — 29 October 2014
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 6 November 2014
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 6 November 2014
- Hindu Festivals 2014 →