Winter festival · Shiva

Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Shiva, kept with fasting, night-long vigil and offerings of water and bel leaves.

Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, is the most important of the monthly Shivaratris. It falls on the fourteenth lunar day of the waning moon (Krishna Chaturdashi) in Phalguna, which is called Magha in the Amanta calendar used in western and southern India. Devotees fast, stay awake through the night and worship Shiva, usually in the form of the Shivalinga.

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Maha Shivaratri

Date: Sat, 6 Mar, 2027
Tithi: Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi
Nishita Kaal Puja: 12:07 AM, 7 Mar – 12:56 AM, 7 Mar
Deity: Shiva

Times for New Delhi. Change the city below.

When to do the puja

Maha Shivaratri muhurat and timings

Timings for New Delhi, Delhi

Date

Sat, 6 Mar, 2027

Tithi at sunrise

Trayodashi (Krishna)

Sunrise

06:41 AM

Sunset

06:23 PM

Best time for Maha Shivaratri

Nishita Kaal Puja

12:07 AM, 7 Mar – 12:56 AM, 7 Mar

Duration 49 min

Other auspicious timings

Prahar 1 Puja
06:23 PM – 09:28 PM
Prahar 2 Puja
09:28 PM – 12:32 AM, 7 Mar
Prahar 3 Puja
12:32 AM, 7 Mar – 03:36 AM, 7 Mar
Prahar 4 Puja
03:36 AM, 7 Mar – 06:40 AM, 7 Mar

Tithi, nakshatra and key moments

Chaturdashi tithi
12:04 PM – 01:46 PM, 7 Mar
Abhijit Muhurat
12:09 PM – 12:56 PM
Amrit Kaal
07:16 PM – 09:02 PM
Parana (break the fast)
After sunrise and before Chaturdashi ends.
06:40 AM, 7 Mar – 01:46 PM, 7 Mar

Inauspicious times: avoid starting the puja

Gulika Kaal
06:41 AM – 08:09 AM
Varjyam
08:44 AM – 10:29 AM
Rahu Kaal
09:37 AM – 11:04 AM
Bhadra (Vishti karana)
Moon in Kumbha: Bhadra is on earth, avoid auspicious work.
12:04 PM – 12:59 AM, 7 Mar
Yamaganda
02:00 PM – 03:28 PM

Choghadiya for the day and night

Day

Kaal06:41 AM – 08:09 AM
Shubh08:09 AM – 09:37 AM
Rog09:37 AM – 11:04 AM
Udveg11:04 AM – 12:32 PM
Chal12:32 PM – 02:00 PM
Labh02:00 PM – 03:28 PM
Amrit03:28 PM – 04:56 PM
Kaal04:56 PM – 06:23 PM

Night

Labh06:23 PM – 07:55 PM
Udveg07:55 PM – 09:28 PM
Shubh09:28 PM – 11:00 PM
Amrit11:00 PM – 12:32 AM, 7 Mar
Chal12:32 AM, 7 Mar – 02:04 AM, 7 Mar
Rog02:04 AM, 7 Mar – 03:36 AM, 7 Mar
Kaal03:36 AM, 7 Mar – 05:08 AM, 7 Mar
Labh05:08 AM, 7 Mar – 06:40 AM, 7 Mar

Calculated for New Delhi, Delhi, India (sidereal Lahiri, local sunrise). Regional and family traditions can differ by a day or in the exact window; follow your family priest where they differ.

Meaning

Significance of Maha Shivaratri

Shivaratri is a night of inward attention. Where most festivals are bright and noisy, this one is kept with fasting, quiet chanting and staying awake (jagaran). The idea is to stay alert and turn the mind towards Shiva, who is seen as pure awareness beyond birth and death.

The night is divided into four quarters (prahars), and many devotees worship Shiva once in each, with a different offering every time. The most sacred part is the midnight period (Nishita Kaal), when Shiva is believed to have appeared as an endless column of light. This page shows the Nishita Kaal Puja and Four Prahar Puja times for your city.

The festival is also remembered as the night of Shiva's marriage to Parvati, and in many places it is celebrated with wedding processions, music and fairs. It is observed by people of every background: householders, ascetics, young people hoping for a good partner, and those seeking peace of mind.

The story

Once Brahma and Vishnu argued over which of them was greater. A huge column of fire appeared between them, with no visible beginning or end. Brahma flew upward as a swan to find its top, and Vishnu dug downward as a boar to find its base, but neither could reach the end. Shiva then appeared from the column, showing that he was beyond both. This appearance as the boundless pillar of light (Lingodbhava) is believed to have happened at midnight on this night, and the Shivalinga is its symbol.

A popular folk story tells of a hunter who was caught in the forest after dark and climbed a bel tree to escape wild animals. To stay awake he kept plucking leaves and dropping them below, unaware that a Shivalinga stood under the tree. Without food, awake all night and offering bel leaves without knowing it, he had kept the Shivaratri vow. By Shiva's grace his heart changed, and he gave up hunting. The story is told to show that sincerity matters more than elaborate ritual.

One festival, many traditions

How Maha Shivaratri is celebrated across India

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)

Devotees bathe in the Ganga at dawn and queue through the day and night to offer water, milk and bel leaves at the Kashi Vishwanath temple and smaller Shiva temples along the ghats. Colourful wedding processions of Shiva (Shiv Baraat) move through the streets with devotees dressed as Shiva's attendants, accompanied by drums and music. The ghats and lanes stay busy until morning.

Why it matters there: Kashi is believed to be Shiva's own city, and Kashi Vishwanath is one of the twelve jyotirlingas, so spending Shivaratri here holds special meaning.

Central India (Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh)

Known as Shiv Navratri at Mahakaleshwar

At the Mahakaleshwar jyotirlinga, the celebration stretches over several days before Shivaratri, known as Shiv Navratri, when the deity is adorned in a different form each day. On Shivaratri the temple stays open for long hours of darshan and special worship through the night. Devotees also bathe in the Kshipra river.

Why it matters there: Shiva is worshipped here as Mahakal, the lord of time, and the temple is one of the most visited jyotirlingas on this night.

Gujarat (Somnath and Junagadh)

The Somnath temple on the Saurashtra coast holds special worship through the four prahars of the night. In Junagadh, a large fair is held at the foot of Girnar hill around the Bhavnath Mahadev temple, where sadhus, including Naga ascetics, gather for several days. Pilgrims take part in night-long bhajan and attend the ascetics' procession.

Why it matters there: Somnath is traditionally counted as the first of the twelve jyotirlingas, and the Girnar fair is one of western India's oldest gatherings of ascetics.

East India (Bhubaneswar, Odisha)

At the Lingaraj temple, devotees fast and keep vigil through the day and night. Late at night a great lamp (Mahadeepa) is carried up and placed atop the temple's main tower. Many devotees break their fast only after seeing the Mahadeepa raised.

Why it matters there: The raising of the lamp is the high point of the night for the city and marks the completion of the vigil for many families.

South India (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu)

Major Shiva temples hold annual festivals (Brahmotsavams) around Shivaratri, including Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Srikalahasti, where Shiva is worshipped as the air element (Vayu Linga). Devotees walk long distances to these temples and keep vigil through the night. In Tamil Nadu, Shiva temples perform four sets of abhishek and worship (four kala puja) through the night, one in each quarter.

Why it matters there: The South Indian temple calendar gives great weight to the night's four quarters, and families often stay in the temple from evening until dawn.

Kashmir (Kashmiri Pandit community)

Known as Herath

Herath is the most important festival of Kashmiri Pandits and is usually observed on the Trayodashi, a day before Shivaratri in most other regions. Pots representing Shiva, Parvati and their attendants are filled with water and walnuts and worshipped at home in a ritual known as Vatuk Puja. The soaked walnuts are later distributed to relatives and friends as prasad, and the following days are spent visiting family.

Why it matters there: For the community, Herath celebrates Shiva's arrival and union with Parvati, and the shared walnuts carry the blessing to every household.

Himachal Pradesh (Mandi)

Known as Mandi Shivratri

Mandi holds a week-long fair starting on Shivaratri. Village deities (devtas) are carried in decorated palanquins from the surrounding valleys to Mandi to pay respects to the town's presiding deity, Madho Rai, and to Shiva at the Bhootnath temple. The town fills with processions, folk music and cultural programmes.

Why it matters there: The gathering of hundreds of local deities makes Mandi Shivratri a unique meeting of Himachal's village traditions with Shiva worship.

Step by step

Maha Shivaratri puja vidhi

1
In the morning, bathe, wear clean clothes (white or light colours are common) and take a vow (sankalp) to keep the fast and worship Shiva through the night.
2
Set up a Shivalinga at home, or plan to visit a nearby Shiva temple. If you have no Shivalinga, a picture of Shiva or a small clay linga made that day is fine.
3
Keep the day simple: chant Om Namah Shivaya, read stories of Shiva, and eat only what your fast allows.
4
In the evening, clean the puja area, light a ghee lamp and incense, and offer a short prayer to Ganesha before starting.
5
In the first prahar (see the Four Prahar Puja times above), bathe the Shivalinga (abhishek) with water, then with milk, and offer bel leaves, flowers and sandalwood paste.
6
In the second prahar, offer curd and repeat the abhishek with water, bel leaves and chanting.
7
During the Nishita Kaal Puja time shown above, do the main worship: abhishek with water, milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar one by one (or as panchamrit), followed by clean water. Offer bel leaves, dhatura, white flowers, fruits and a lamp, and chant Om Namah Shivaya 108 times if you can.
8
In the third prahar, offer ghee, and in the fourth prahar, offer honey, each followed by water, bel leaves and chanting. If four separate pujas are not practical, a single sincere puja at Nishita Kaal is enough.
9
Stay awake through the night if your health permits, with bhajans, chanting or quiet meditation (jagaran).
10
When doing parikrama around a Shivalinga, go only halfway and turn back; do not step over the channel through which the abhishek water flows out.
11
After sunrise, do a short morning puja, offer food to someone in need if you can, and break the fast during the Parana time shown above.

Om Namah Shivaya

I bow to Shiva, the auspicious one. The five-syllable mantra (Panchakshari) at the heart of Shiva worship, suitable for everyone.

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat

We worship the three-eyed Lord who is fragrant and nourishes all. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its vine, may we be freed from death and not from immortality. This is the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, a prayer for wellbeing and peace.

What you need

Puja samagri (items)

Shivalinga, or a picture of Shiva
Clean water in a copper or brass pot (lota), with Ganga jal if available
Raw milk
Curd
Ghee
Honey
Sugar or mishri
Bel leaves (bilva patra), three-leaved and unbroken
Dhatura flowers or fruit
White flowers such as aak or jasmine
Sandalwood paste (chandan) and vibhuti (sacred ash)
Unbroken rice (akshata)
Seasonal fruits, including ber (jujube) if available
Ghee lamp (diya) and cotton wicks
Incense sticks and camphor
Rudraksha mala for chanting (optional)
Plate or tray to collect the abhishek water

Fasting

Maha Shivaratri vrat rules

Who: anyone who wishes to, in good health. Children, elders, people with diabetes or other health conditions, and pregnant or breastfeeding women should keep a lighter fast or just join the worship; consult your doctor if unsure. This is general guidance, not medical advice.
Duration: the fast usually begins at sunrise on Shivaratri and ends the next morning after sunrise, during the Parana time shown on this page.
Types: a strict waterless fast (nirjala) is kept by some; most keep a fruit fast (phalahar) with fruit, milk, curd, makhana, sweet potato, and dishes of sabudana, buckwheat (kuttu) or water-chestnut flour (singhara) cooked with rock salt (sendha namak).
Avoid during the fast: rice, wheat, pulses, regular table salt, onion, garlic, alcohol and non-vegetarian food.
Night vigil (jagaran) is part of the vow, but rest if you feel unwell; it is better to worship with a clear mind than to strain.
Parana: break the fast after the morning puja with prasad and a light, simple meal. Drink water steadily.

Do's and don'ts

What to do, and what to avoid

Do

Worship during the Nishita Kaal Puja time shown for your city, and in each of the four prahars if you can.
Offer clean bel leaves with three leaflets, smooth side touching the Shivalinga.
Chant Om Namah Shivaya through the day and night, aloud or silently.
Keep the vigil (jagaran) with family bhajans, reading or meditation, as health allows.
Visit a nearby Shiva temple and follow the temple's rules and queue patiently.
Donate food, clothes or milk to people in need after the puja, rather than letting offerings go to waste.
Break the fast during the Parana time shown above with a light meal.

Avoid (inauspicious)

Avoid starting the sankalp or a puja during Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda or Gulika, which are listed on this page for your city.
Do not offer ketaki (kewda) flowers, tulsi leaves or turmeric on the Shivalinga, which are traditionally not used in Shiva worship.
Do not offer torn or wilted bel leaves, or leaves with fewer than three leaflets.
Do not walk a full circle around the Shivalinga or step over the channel carrying the abhishek water.
Do not eat grains, onion, garlic, meat, eggs or alcohol if you are keeping the fast.
Avoid waste: offer only a small amount of milk and give the rest to people who need it.
Do not force a strict fast or full night vigil if you are unwell, pregnant or on medication.

Common questions

Maha Shivaratri FAQs

What is the difference between Maha Shivaratri and monthly Shivaratri?

Every month has a Shivaratri on the Krishna Chaturdashi, called Masik Shivaratri. Maha Shivaratri is the one in Phalguna (Magha in the Amanta calendar) and is considered the greatest of the year. The worship is similar, but Maha Shivaratri is kept with more devotion and a full night vigil.

What are the four prahars of Shivaratri?

The night from sunset to sunrise is divided into four quarters called prahars. Many devotees do a puja in each, traditionally offering milk, curd, ghee and honey in turn. This page shows the Four Prahar Puja times for your city.

What is the most important time for Shivaratri puja?

The Nishita Kaal, the midnight window shown above, is considered the most sacred time because Shiva is believed to have appeared as the column of light then. If you can do only one puja, do it during Nishita Kaal.

Can women keep the Maha Shivaratri fast?

Yes. The fast is open to everyone, men and women, married or unmarried. Many young women keep it praying for a good life partner, inspired by Parvati's devotion to Shiva. Pregnant women and anyone with a health condition should adapt it or consult a doctor.

When should I break the Shivaratri fast?

The fast is broken the next morning after sunrise, during the Parana time shown on this page. Do a short morning puja first, then eat prasad and a light meal.

Can I do Shivaratri puja at home without a Shivalinga?

Yes. You can worship a picture of Shiva, or make a small linga from clean clay for the day and immerse it afterwards. Sincere chanting of Om Namah Shivaya and an offering of water and bel leaves is the essence of the worship.