Date & Timing
Mahashivratri falls on the Chaturdashi Tithi (14th day) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the Hindu month of Phalguna. The festival is celebrated through four praharas (watches of the night), each with specific puja rituals dedicated to Shiva.
Ritual Observances
Devotees observe a strict fast throughout the day and night. At Shiva temples across India, the Shivalinga is bathed (abhisheka) with milk, honey, curd, ghee and water. Offerings of bilva (bel) leaves, which are most dear to Shiva, flowers and incense are made at each watch of the night.
Why This Night?
According to the Shiva Purana, Mahashivratri is the night when Shiva performed the cosmic dance of creation, preservation and dissolution (Tandava). It is also regarded as the night when Shiva and Parvati were married. Pilgrims believe that sincere worship on this night is equivalent to a year of daily puja.
Best Places to Celebrate
- Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath): The entire city transforms into a sea of devotion; the main temple sees hundreds of thousands of worshippers.
- Ujjain (Mahakaleshwar): The Mahakal Temple celebrates with extraordinary abhishek ceremonies.
- Somnath, Gujarat: Special night-long rituals at the first Jyotirlinga.
- Kedarnath (when accessible): The high-altitude temple opens its Mahashivratri season with special ceremonies.