Maha Shivaratri 2015
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:31
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)12:37 → 2015-02-18 · 09:05
- Parana (tithi ends)09:052015-02-18
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 2015
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2015
- Vasant Panchami — 24 January 2015
- Holika Dahan — 5 March 2015
- Holi — 6 March 2015
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 21 March 2015
- Ram Navami — 28 March 2015
- Akshaya Tritiya — 21 April 2015
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 18 July 2015
- Guru Purnima — 31 July 2015
- Nag Panchami — 20 August 2015
- Raksha Bandhan — 29 August 2015
- Krishna Janmashtami — 5 September 2015
- Hartalika Teej — 16 September 2015
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 17 September 2015
- Anant Chaturdashi — 27 September 2015
- Pitru Paksha begins — 28 September 2015
- Sharad Navratri begins — 13 October 2015
- Durga Ashtami — 21 October 2015
- Maha Navami — 22 October 2015
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 22 October 2015
- Karwa Chauth — 30 October 2015
- Dhanteras — 9 November 2015
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 10 November 2015
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 11 November 2015
- Govardhan Puja — 12 November 2015
- Bhai Dooj — 13 November 2015
- Chhath Puja — 17 November 2015
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 25 November 2015
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 25 November 2015
- Hindu Festivals 2015 →