Every year Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm to honour Lord Shiva. Also, this is one of the most auspicious festivals of Hindus in which they offer prayer to their Lord Shiva. Maha Shivaratri is generally celebrated on the 13th or 14th day of the Krishna Paksha of Falgun as per the Indian calendar. According to Shiv Puran, this festival comes in the Chaturdashi of Shravan month. As per the English calendar, this festival is going to be celebrated on 15th February in the year 2026.

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2026 Maha Shivaratri Date in India

Maha Shivaratri 2026 Date: Sunday, 15th February

Nishita Kaal Puja: 12:12 AM – 1:01 AM, Feb 16

Chaturdashi Tithi: Begins 5:04 PM, Feb 15 – Ends 5:34 PM, Feb 16

Prahar Puja Timings:

• First: 6:30 PM – 9:33 PM, Feb 15

• Second: 9:33 PM – 12:36 AM, Feb 16

• Third: 12:36 AM – 3:39 AM, Feb 16

• Fourth: 3:39 AM – 6:43 AM, Feb 16

The spiritual significance of Maha Shivaratri 2026

Though there are many tales behind why this day is celebrated as Maha Shivaratri, the most believable tale is about how Lord Shiva was approached by Gods all over the world to protect them from a poison that the vast oceans were gurgling out hence posing a danger to their existence. To save them, Mahadev swallowed the poison himself and stored it in his throat with the help of a snake coiling around it. Gods thanked the Lord for saving them and after that, it is believed that whoever observes a fast on this day and honors Lord Shiva with devotion and faith, is blessed with life and health by the Lord himself.

The other tale revolves around Maha Shivratri is the reunion of Lord Shiva and Parvati on this day after the Gods reformed Sati, Shiva’s wife in the form of Parvati. According to mythology, Sati sacrificed herself to the sacred fire after her father insulted Shiva in front of all at an event in his kingdom. This day is also called the day of arousal of & Jyotirlinga & an avatar of Mahadev.

Rituals of Shivratri

Normally devotees fast the whole day with only some fruits and milk during this time. At night, prayer is offered at the various temples of Lord Shiva and a special ritual of “Rudrabhisheka” is performed in which people bathe the Lord with milk and present sweets and prayers. It is advised by priests and experts to meditate on this day and to recite “Om Namah Shivaya” as many times as possible during the whole day. Those women who are married perform special prayers and rituals on this day for the good health and well-being of their husbands.

Maha Shivaratri in India

All over India, Lord Shiva is worshipped in various temples of which the most famous are Kalahasteeswara temple in Kalahasti, Andhra Pradesh, and Umananda Temple situated in the peacock island amidst the Brahmaputra River in Assam, Bhutnath Temple in Himachal Pradesh, Matangeshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh and Tarkeshwar temple in West Bengal. Infamous Sidhlingappa’s fair is organised during Maha Shivratri in Karnataka. In Kashmir, Maha Shivratri is also referred to as Hayrath or Vatuk puja after which a ritual of exchanging gifts is commonly observed among the local Hindus residing there.

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