🔱Maha Shivaratri - महा शिवरात्रि

Maha Shivratri: Wednesday, 26 February 2025

Maha Shivratri Ratri Prahar Puja Time: [Delhi]
Night 1st Prahar: 6:19 PM - 9:26 PM | 26 February
Night Second Hour: 9:26 PM - 12:34 AM 27 February
Night Third Prahar: 12:34 AM - 3:41 AM | 27 February
Night Fourth Prahar: 3:41 AM - 6:48 AM | 27 February

Chaturdashi Date: 26 February 2025 11:08 AM - 27 February 2025 8:54 AM

Maha Shivratri is largely celebrated in all over India by Hindu community. It falls on the new moon in the month of Maagha as per the Hindu calendar. Maha Shivratri is known as a Great Night of Shiva. It is to be believed that Maha Shivaratri was the moment when Lord Shiva performs a beautiful dance it was the night when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married.

Devotees often do fast and offerings are observed in the night to Lingam. Some people avoid all the food items during the fasting practices for the entire day during Maha Shivaratri. While others do restrict fast practices called Phalar. As per this tradition, people offer some items like milk, yoghurt, fruit, almonds, peanuts, cashew and honey on Shivlingam during Maha Shivaratri. It is believed that those who complete these practices along with Jagrana are believed to be blessed with happiness in their life. Fasting and other practices bring a good luck into their lives.

After earth's creation was complete, Parvati asked Lord Shiva which devotees and rituals pleased him the most. The Lord replied that the 14th night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight during the month of Phalgun, is his favorite day. As per Sadhguru, the planetary positions on this night are such that there is a powerful natural upsurge of energy in the human system. Devotees, who like yogic sadhana, keeping the body in a vertical position, and not sleeping on all night.

Savan Shivratri is also called the closing day of the Kanwar Yatra, during the monsoon month Shraawan (Jul-Aug). Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh & Gangotri in Uttarakhand; Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch holy waters of Ganges River, Ganga Jal, which is later offered at their local Shiv temples (including Kashi Vishwanath, Baidyanath, Neelkanth and Devghar).

Shivratri is the source of positive energy for the most exhilarating day of Lord Shiva, so the whole day is considered holy and auspicious for watering/Jal Abhishek. While keeping in mind, avoid the union of the two dates for Jal Abhishekam.