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Festival Calendar

Maha Shivaratri 2016

The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.

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Maha Shivaratri 2016 date
Monday, 7 March 2016
Tithi: Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi
Tithi window: 01:21 PM, Monday, 7 March 2016 → 10:34 AM, Tuesday, 8 March 2016
See the full panchang for Monday, 7 March 2016

Muhurat & timings

Kashi/IST · astronomically computed
  • Sankalp (sunrise)06:15
  • Nishita puja (midnight)23:44 – 00:32
  • Fasting window (tithi)13:21 → 2016-03-08 · 10:34
  • Parana (tithi ends)10:342016-03-08

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 katha

Maha 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 2016