Maha Shivratri 2026 and 2027: date, muhurat and meaning

Masik Shivratri, the monthly Shivratri, falls on every Krishna Chaturdashi, so there are about twelve in a year. Maha Shivratri is the most important of them, the one in Phalguna (Magha in the amanta calendar), linked with Shiva's wedding to Parvati and his appearance as the jyotirlinga. Many devotees who do not keep the monthly fast still observe Maha Shivratri with a full fast and a night vigil.

It depends on family custom. Some keep a nirjala fast without water; most take fruit, milk, curd, makhana (fox nuts), sabudana, and dishes made from buckwheat or water chestnut flour cooked with rock salt. Grains, lentils, onion and garlic are usually avoided. Elderly people, pregnant women and anyone unwell often keep a simple fruit-and-milk fast instead, which is widely accepted.

Leaves of the bel (wood apple) tree are considered dear to Shiva, and their three-part shape is often linked to his three eyes or to the trinity. Choose unbroken leaves with all three leaflets, wash them, and place them on the linga with the smooth side towards it while chanting Om Namah Shivaya. Tradition says even a single bel leaf offered with devotion pleases Shiva more than an elaborate ritual done without feeling.

The night from sunset to the next sunrise is divided into four equal watches called prahars. In each one, devotees perform abhishek of the linga, offer bel leaves and do aarti. Some texts suggest milk in the first prahar, curd in the second, ghee in the third and honey in the fourth, though practice varies between temples and families. Each prahar for Delhi, with its date, is given in the muhurat section of this page.

In most traditions the fast is broken the next morning, after bathing and a short puja; this is called parana. It is generally considered best to do it after sunrise and before chaturdashi tithi ends. Start with prasad or fruit, then move to a simple meal. Some families break the fast after the final prahar puja instead, following their own custom, and that is respected too.

The night vigil, called jagran, is one of the oldest parts of the festival, and many temples keep bhajans and abhisheks going until dawn. It is not a strict requirement for everyone, though. People who cannot stay up all night often keep awake until the nishita puja around midnight, or join at least one prahar puja. Sincere devotion is what the tradition values most.