🕉️ Shiva
Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna (Feb-Mar)
Mahashivratri
Mahashivratri — "the Great Night of Shiva" — is the most important Shiva festival of the year. Celebrated on the Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna (February-March), the night is marked by four-prahar (four 3-hour segments) of abhishekam, Shiva Tandava Stotra recitation, and jagran (staying awake through the night). Legend has it that Shiva married Parvati on this night, and also drank the halahala poison during Samudra Manthan — the vrat commemorates both.
📅 Upcoming dates
- Saturday, 6 March 2027
- Wednesday, 23 February 2028
Dates are worked out from the panchang for New Delhi (IST). A tithi ends at a different hour elsewhere, so in some years the day differs by one.
🔔 Puja Vidhi
- Fast from sunrise on Chaturdashi
- Perform four-prahar puja: 6-9pm (milk), 9pm-12am (curd), 12-3am (ghee), 3-6am (honey)
- Continuous chanting of "Om Namah Shivaya" through the night
- Recite Shiva Tandava Stotra and Rudri path
- Break fast next morning (Amavasya) after sunrise puja
📜 Rules
- Jagran (staying awake) is essential — sleeping breaks the vrat
- Bilva leaves offered continuously throughout the night
- No non-vegetarian, alcohol, or negativity
- Solo puja or group jagran both count
Related reading in the Devotional Library
📖 Somvar (Monday) Vrat Katha
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does Mahashivratri fall?
The Chaturdashi is calculated using panchang — the night when Chaturdashi tithi is present during the middle-of-night muhurat is Mahashivratri. Check our panchang for the exact 2027 date.
What are the four Prahars?
Each Prahar is roughly 3 hours: 1st (6-9pm), 2nd (9pm-12am), 3rd (12-3am), 4th (3-6am). Different abhishek fluids are offered in each — milk, curd, ghee, honey respectively.
Related vrats
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