Maha Shivratri 2027 date, nishita puja time and fast

Maha Shivratri 2027 falls on Saturday, 6 March, according to Hindu almanacs (panchangs) and the Union government's restricted holiday list. The most important puja, at midnight, called the nishita kaal puja, falls at about 12:07 AM to 12:56 AM on the night of 6 to 7 March in Delhi.

Here are the timings, the meaning of the night and how to plan for it.

Key points

• Maha Shivratri 2027: Saturday 6 March.
• Chaturdashi tithi: from about midday on 6 March to about 1:46 PM on 7 March.
• Nishita kaal puja in Delhi: about 12:07 AM to 12:56 AM, night of 6 to 7 March.
• The fast is traditionally broken on the morning or afternoon of 7 March; check your local panchang.
• Maha Shivratri is a restricted holiday for central government staff and falls on a Saturday in 2027.

Maha Shivratri 2027 date and time

Timings vary by city. One listing, for example, puts the nishita window in Mumbai at about 12:25 AM to 1:13 AM and in Kolkata at about 11:23 PM to 12:11 AM. Panchangs also differ by a few minutes.

Why Maha Shivratri is celebrated at night

Maha Shivratri, "the great night of Shiva", falls on the 14th day (Chaturdashi) of the dark half of the month of Phalguna, the night before the new moon. Most Hindu festivals are celebrated in the day, but Shivratri is a festival of the night. Devotees stay awake, praying and chanting through the four quarters (prahars) of the night.

The midnight period, nishita kaal, is considered the most sacred moment, when Shiva is believed to have manifested as an endless pillar of light (the jyotirlinga).

The stories of Maha Shivratri

• The wedding of Shiva and Parvati: Many devotees celebrate the night as the anniversary of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, and temples hold wedding processions and rituals.
• The pillar of light: In one story, Brahma and Vishnu argued over who was greater, and Shiva appeared as an endless column of fire. Neither could find its end, and both accepted Shiva's supremacy.
• Neelkanth: When the gods and demons churned the ocean, a deadly poison emerged. Shiva drank it to save the world, and Parvati held his throat so it would not go further, turning it blue. Devotees keep vigil on Shivratri in gratitude.

How Maha Shivratri is observed

• Fasting: Many devotees fast for the whole day and night. Some keep a nirjala fast without water; most eat fruit, milk and fasting foods such as sabudana, makhana and kuttu.
• Abhishek: The Shiva lingam is bathed with water, milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugarcane juice, and offered bilva (bel) leaves, dhatura and white flowers.
• Chanting: "Om Namah Shivaya" and the Mahamrityunjaya mantra are chanted through the night.
• Four prahar puja: Many temples and families perform puja in each of the four quarters of the night.
• Jagran: Staying awake all night with bhajans, prayers and meditation.
• Rudraksha and ash: Many devotees wear rudraksha beads and apply holy ash (vibhuti) on the forehead in three horizontal lines, the tripundra, a mark associated with Shiva.

Anyone who is pregnant, elderly, diabetic or on regular medication should check with a doctor before a strict fast.

Where Maha Shivratri is biggest

• Varanasi: The Kashi Vishwanath temple draws very large crowds, and a Shiva wedding procession (Shiv baraat) winds through the city.
• Ujjain: The Mahakaleshwar temple, one of the twelve jyotirlingas, holds special rituals through the night.
• Somnath, Trimbakeshwar, Omkareshwar and the other jyotirlinga temples: Major pilgrim centres.
• Coimbatore: The all-night celebration at the Isha Yoga Centre is broadcast widely.
• Mandi (Himachal Pradesh): The International Shivratri Fair runs for about a week, with local deities brought into the town.
• Nepal: The Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu is one of the largest Shivratri gatherings in South Asia.

The twelve jyotirlingas

Many devotees try, over a lifetime, to visit all twelve jyotirlingas, the shrines where Shiva is believed to have appeared as a column of light. Shivratri is one of the busiest nights at each of them:

Kedarnath is closed for the winter and usually reopens in late April or May, so it is not open on Maha Shivratri.

Food and thandai

Fasting foods on Shivratri include sabudana khichdi, kuttu puri, singhara halwa, makhana kheer, fruit and milk. In many parts of north India, thandai, a cold milk drink with almonds, fennel, pepper and rose, is served as prasad.

In some places, thandai is mixed with bhang (a preparation of cannabis leaves) as part of the festival tradition. Bhang can be strong and unpredictable. Never drive after it, and keep it away from children.

Maha Shivratri 2027 for Indians abroad

Hindu temples in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Mauritius and the Gulf hold all-night Shivratri programmes. In Mauritius, Maha Shivratri is a national holiday, and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk to the crater lake of Ganga Talao. Abroad, temples often set their own timings, so check with your local temple.

Maha Shivratri and the March 2027 festivals

Maha Shivratri falls on a Saturday in 2027, so most people will not need leave for the fast and the night vigil. Read our Holi 2027 guide and the Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr 2027 guide for the rest of the month.

Planning for Maha Shivratri 2027

• Temple crowds: Large temples set up separate queues and long darshan hours. Arrive early, carry water, and follow police and temple instructions.
• Travel to Varanasi and Ujjain: Book trains and rooms early; both cities are busy for days around the festival.
• Holiday: It is a restricted holiday for central government staff, and a public holiday in several states. Check your state's 2027 list.
• Weekend timing: Because the night vigil runs from Saturday into Sunday, families can keep the fast without worrying about work the next morning.

See every festival of the year in our full festival calendar for 2027.

On the night of 6 March 2027, temples across India will stay open until dawn. Keep the timings handy, look after your health if you fast, and plan ahead if you are heading to a major temple.