New Delhi: Hindu devotees across India are gearing up for Maha Shivratri 2026, one of the most sacred festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This year, the festival falls on Sunday, February 15, observed on the Chaturdashi tithi of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna. Maha Shivratri is celebrated with fasting, prayers, night-long vigils, and devotion, symbolizing the divine union of Shiva and Parvati and the victory of light over ignorance.
The festival holds immense spiritual significance, as devotees believe that worshipping Lord Shiva and observing a night-long vigil brings spiritual awakening, peace, and prosperity. It is also believed that Lord Shiva performed the Tandav, the cosmic dance of creation and destruction, on this night. Temples across India, including Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, will witness grand celebrations with elaborate decorations, aartis, bhajans, and kirtans.
Devotees follow different types of fasts—some consuming only fruits and milk, while others observe nirjala vrat (strict waterless fast). Rituals include abhishekam, bathing the Shivalinga with milk, curd, honey, water, and offering bel patra. Many devotees stay awake throughout the night participating in Shivratri Jagran, meditating, chanting mantras, and performing prayers.
According to Drik Panchang, the Chaturdashi tithi begins at 5:04 PM on February 15 and ends at 5:34 PM on February 16. Important puja timings include the First Prahar Puja from 6:26 PM to 9:30 PM, and the Fourth Prahar Puja from 3:38 AM to 6:42 AM on February 16. Shivratri Parana, marking the conclusion of the fast, is observed from 6:59 AM to 3:24 PM on February 16.
Maha Shivratri is not only a day of devotion but also a celebration of cultural heritage, with devotees from all walks of life participating in rituals to seek blessings, spiritual growth, and divine protection. Across India, the festival unites communities in reverence and tradition, making it one of the most cherished occasions in the Hindu calendar.
