Maha Shivaratri 2017
The great night of Shiva — night-long vigil, fasting and Rudrabhishek on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:25
- Nishita puja (midnight)23:47 – 00:35
- Fasting window (tithi)21:39 → 2017-02-25 · 21:21
- Parana (tithi ends)21:212017-02-25
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 2017
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2017
- Vasant Panchami — 1 February 2017
- Holika Dahan — 12 March 2017
- Holi — 13 March 2017
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 28 March 2017
- Ram Navami — 4 April 2017
- Akshaya Tritiya — 28 April 2017
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 25 June 2017
- Guru Purnima — 9 July 2017
- Nag Panchami — 28 July 2017
- Raksha Bandhan — 7 August 2017
- Krishna Janmashtami — 14 August 2017
- Hartalika Teej — 24 August 2017
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 25 August 2017
- Anant Chaturdashi — 5 September 2017
- Pitru Paksha begins — 7 September 2017
- Sharad Navratri begins — 21 September 2017
- Durga Ashtami — 28 September 2017
- Maha Navami — 29 September 2017
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 30 September 2017
- Karwa Chauth — 8 October 2017
- Dhanteras — 17 October 2017
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 18 October 2017
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 19 October 2017
- Govardhan Puja — 20 October 2017
- Bhai Dooj — 21 October 2017
- Chhath Puja — 26 October 2017
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 4 November 2017
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 4 November 2017
- Hindu Festivals 2017 →