2025 Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri Vrat Vidhi, India (2025)

Timings:

• All times are in 12-hour format based on New Delhi, India. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is considered if applicable.
• Night hours are shown with “+ Next Day” to indicate they continue into the following day.
• A Hindu day starts and ends with sunrise, according to the Panchang calendar.

Maha Shivaratri Overview:

Maha Shivaratri is a major Hindu festival celebrating the union of Shiva and Shakti. It falls on the fourteenth lunar day (Chaturdashi Tithi) during the waning moon (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Magha according to the South Indian calendar. In the North Indian calendar, Maha Shivaratri is observed on the Masik Shivaratri in the month of Phalguna. While the lunar month differs between calendars, both North and South Indians celebrate Maha Shivaratri on the same day.

Fasting Rituals (Vrat Vidhi):

• Preparation: Devotees typically eat only one meal on the day before Shivaratri Vratam, which likely falls on Trayodashi Tithi.
• Sankalp: On Shivaratri day, after morning rituals, devotees take a Sankalp (vow) to observe a full-day fast and break it the following day. This vow signifies self-control and seeking Lord Shiva’s blessings to complete the fast successfully.
• Second Bath: In the evening, devotees take a second bath before performing Shiva Puja or visiting a temple.
• Shiva Puja: The puja should be performed at night.
• Breaking the Fast (Parana): Devotees break their fast the next day after taking a bath. Ideally, this should occur between sunrise and the end of Chaturdashi Tithi to reap the full benefits of the Vrat. A different view suggests breaking the fast only after Chaturdashi Tithi ends. However, it’s generally believed that both Shiva Puja and Parana should be completed within Chaturdashi Tithi.

Shiva Puja Frequency:

• Shiva Puja can be performed once or four times throughout the night.
• The night can be divided into four Prahar (periods) to perform the puja four times. Websites like Drikpanchang.com provide Prahar timings for devotees who choose to perform Shiva Puja four times.

Additional Notes:

Shivaratri is also spelled as Shivratri, Shivarathri, and Sivaratri.

Remember: This information is specific to Maha Shivaratri celebrations in 2025 for New Delhi, India. Consult a religious scholar or reference specific calendars for exact timings and variations in observance.