Friday, 08 March 2024

This festival is celebrated on the Chaturdashi of Phalgun Krishna Paksha. The date should be Nishid Kalik. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva. Some celebrate it in the morning, while other organise pujas and jagrans at night. Devotees also observe a full day fast on Maha Shivratri. According to legend, this is the night when Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati got married. As per another belief Lord Shiva gulped the Halahala produced during Samudra manthan and beheld it in his neck which turned blue, after which he was named as Neel Kanth. According to one other legend, this is the night when Lord Shiva performed the heavenly dance or tandav.

Maha Shivratri (1950 to 2050)