Maha Shivaratri 2026
Maha Shivaratri 2026 falls on in Delhi, India (Nishita Kaal, computed for local midnight).
Dates are computed for Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
About Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna. Tradition holds that on this night Shiva performed the tandava, or the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is commemorated — the telling varies by region, but the vigil itself is universal.
Devotees fast through the day and keep a night-long jagran, offering bilva leaves, milk and water to the lingam during each of the four night watches. The Shivaratri puja is performed at nishita, the midnight window, and next morning the fast is broken.
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Day details for
| Tithi at sunrise | Krishna Trayodasi |
|---|---|
| Tithi window | 16:02 (-1 day) – 17:05 |
| Nakshatra | Uttar Ashadha |
| Sunrise | 06:59 IST |
| Sunset | 18:11 IST |
| Moonrise | 05:36 |
| Moonset | 16:07 |
| Madhyahna (local noon) | 12:35 |
| Pradosh Kaal (2 Muhurta after sunset) | 18:11 – 19:47 |
| Nishita Kaal (8th of 15 night divisions) | 00:09 (+1 day) – 01:00 (+1 day) |
All times are for Delhi, India (IST). The festival-specific observance anchor for this page is Nishita Kaal, computed for local midnight.
Year comparison
| Year | Date | Weekday | Tithi at sunrise (window) | Dating anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday | 16:02 (-1 day) – 17:05 | Nishita Kaal, computed for local midnight | |
| 2027 | Saturday | 09:54 (-1 day) – 12:04 | Nishita Kaal, computed for local midnight |
Other years
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Methodology and reference
Dates on this page are computed astronomically — sidereal solar and lunar longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — and dated by the classical rules of Dharmasindhu and Muhurta Chintamani (Udaya Tithi, Pradosh-vyapini and Aparahna conventions as applicable). Every value is regression-checked against Rashtriya Panchang, the official almanac compiled by Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) in Kolkata; the full method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Maha Shivaratri in 2026?
- Maha Shivaratri 2026 falls on Sunday, 15 February 2026 in Delhi, India (Nishita Kaal, computed for local midnight).
- What is Maha Shivaratri?
- Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna. Tradition holds that on this night Shiva performed the tandava, or the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is commemorated — the telling varies by region, but the vigil itself is universal.
- How is Maha Shivaratri observed?
- Devotees fast through the day and keep a night-long jagran, offering bilva leaves, milk and water to the lingam during each of the four night watches. The Shivaratri puja is performed at nishita, the midnight window, and next morning the fast is broken.
- Why might Maha Shivaratri fall on a different day elsewhere?
- Observance dates follow the tithi current at local sunrise, so cities with different sunrise times can observe a day earlier or later. Vaishnava calendars also shift dates when a tithi touches no sunrise (kshaya).