Maha Shivaratri 2026
Maha Shivaratri falls on Sunday, 15 February 2026 (New Delhi).
Maha Shivaratri falls on the Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna (Magha in the amanta reckoning), the night sacred to Lord Shiva. Devotees fast, keep vigil and offer water, milk and bel leaves to the Shiva linga through the four quarters (prahar) of the night.
Dates
| 2026 | Sunday, 15 February 2026 · Full calendar 2026 |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Saturday, 6 March 2027 · Full calendar 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, 23 February 2028 · Full calendar 2028 |
How the date is set
It is kept in the lunar month of Magha, Krishna paksha Chaturdashi, on the day of the tithi prevailing at midnight (nishita kaal).
Lunar months here are amanta (new moon to new moon); in the purnimanta reckoning used in much of North India, the Krishna paksha belongs to the next month. Communities follow their own rules for some festivals, so a local almanac may keep a few on a neighbouring day.
Dates are computed with this site's panchang (Lahiri ayanamsa) for New Delhi. Times of sunrise and the tithi differ by place, so a date can shift by a day for cities far from Delhi; the calendar pages recalculate for your city. All festivals →