Festival guide
Maha Shivaratri 2026
महा शिवरात्रि
Maha Shivaratri, the Great Night of Shiva, is the most sacred night dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Date
- Sun, 15 February 2026
- Main muhurat
- Nishita Kaal Puja · 11:46 pm – 12:37 am (next day)
Plan the day
Good times and times to avoid
· Varanasi time (IST)
Auspicious windows
- Abhijit Muhurat45m
- Brahma Muhurta51m
- Amrit Kalam1h 42m
Times to avoid
- Yama Gandam1h 25m
- Dur Muhurta45m
- Rahu Kaal1h 25m
Sun and moon
- Sunrise
- 6:32 am
- Sunset
- 5:51 pm
- Moonrise
- 5:49 am
- Moonset
- 3:46 pm
The festival day's almanac
Panchang for Sun, 15 February
- Tithi
- Trayodashi, then Chaturdashi
- Nakshatra
- Uttara Ashadha
- Yoga
- Vyatipata
- Karana
- Vanija
- Paksha
- Krishna
- Masa
- Phalguna
- Tithi
- TrayodashiFrom Until Then Chaturdashiuntil
- Nakshatra
- Uttara AshadhaFrom Until
Choghadiya, day and night
Day
- UdvegAvoid
- ChalNeutral
- LabhGood
- AmritGood
- KaalAvoid
- RogAvoid
- ShubhGood
- UdvegAvoid
Night
- ShubhGood
- AmritGood
- ChalNeutral
- RogAvoid
- KaalAvoid
- LabhGood
- UdvegAvoid
- ShubhGood
The story
Maha Shivaratri: significance and rituals
It marks the night when Shiva performed the cosmic dance (Tandava) and is celebrated with night-long vigil, fasting, and worship.
Rituals
Observe fast from sunrise. Perform Shiva Puja during four prahar of the night with milk, curd, honey, and ghee abhishek. Chant Om Namah Shivaya. Offer bel patra, dhatura, and blue flowers.
Fasting
Strict 24-hour fast, often nirjala. Some consume only fruits and milk. Fast is broken the next morning after puja.
Local colour
Maha Shivaratri in Varanasi
Varanasi, the city of Shiva, celebrates Maha Shivaratri with unmatched fervor. Kashi Vishwanath Temple sees millions of devotees. A grand procession (Shahi Sawari) of Lord Shiva passes through the lanes of the old city. Every Shiva temple in Varanasi is illuminated and packed with worshippers.
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