When is Maha Shivratri 2024?

Mahashivratri is being celebrated today i.e., March 8, 2024.

How Maha Shivratri is celebrated?

Devotees celebrate Mahashivratri festival with great pomp and show. They observe fast, perform hawan, perform abhishekam to shiva lingam and stay awake all the night to seek blessings of Lord Shiva.

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Mahashivratri 2024 Puja Timings, Shubh Muhurat, Puja Vidhi, Puja Samagri and things you need to know

This story is from March 8, 2024

Mahashivratri 2024 Puja Timings, Shubh Muhurat, Puja Vidhi, Puja Samagri and things you need to know

Mahima Sharma / TOI Religion / Updated: Feb 17, 2025, 11:59 IST

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Mahashivratri, a major Hindu festival, is celebrated to honor Lord Shiva. Devotees visit temples, observe fast, perform puja rituals, and participate in cultural celebrations. They meditate, seek blessings, and break their fast with sattvik food. People perform various puja rituals according to their traditions and region. The festivities starts 5-6 days before the Mahashivratri day.

Mahashivratri 2024 Puja Timings, Shubh Muhurat, Puja Vidhi, Puja Samagri and things you need to know

Image Source: Freepik

Mahashivratri 2024 Festival: Mahashivratri, the major festival of Hindus. This day is celebrated to honour Lord Shiva. Hindu devotees from across the country observe fast and offer their prayers to Lord Shiva with immense devotion and dedication. One of the most significance festivals of Hindus, Mahashivratri celebration has also started now and people must be visiting temples and performing puja to Shiva lingam. Every city has their own tradition and rituals, which they perform to please Lord Shiva on this sacred day of Mahashivratri. Lord Shiva devotees for this amazing miraculous festival is being celebrated today i.e., on Chaturdashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in Phalguna month, March 8, 2024.

Mahashivratri 2024 Date and Time

Tithi	Date and Time
Mahashivratri Celebration	March 8, 2024
Chaturdashi Tithi Begins	March 8, 2024 - 09:57 PM
Chaturdashi Tithi Ends	March 9, 2024 - 06:17 PM
Ratri First Prahar Puja	March 8, 2024 - 05:54 PM to 08:56 PM
Ratri Second Prahar Puja	March 8, 2024 - 08:56 PM to 11:57 PM
Ratri Third Prahar Puja	March 8, 2024 - 11:57 PM to March 9, 2024 - 02:58 AM
Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja	March 8, 2024 - 02:58 AM to March 9, 2024 - 06:00 AM
Nishitha Kaal	March 8, 2024 - 11:33 PM to March 9, 2024 - 12:21 AM
Shivratri Parana	March 9, 2024 - 06:00 AM to 02:56 PM

Is Nishitha Kaal Good for Puja?

Nishitha Kaal is not considered auspicious for performing puja or any rituals so people are advised not to perform puja during that period and the Nishitha Kaal starts from March 8 - 11:33 PM and March 9, 12:21 AM.
Read more: Mahashivratri 2025: Date timings rituals prahar time fasting rules and all you need to know
Mahashivratri 2024: Significance
Maha Shivratri is considered an auspicious and major festival in Hindu religion and the day is purely dedicated to worship Lord Shiva. People perform various puja rituals according to their traditions and region but the motive is to please Lord Shiva by showing immense gratitude and their pure intention with a lot of dedication.

Mahashivartri 2024 Celebration

There are various famous temples, where Maha Shivratri festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. The festivities starts 5-6 days before the Mahashivratri day. They follow all the rituals in which sangeet ceremony, haldi ceremony, mehendi ceremony is organised and people take part in the festivities and celebrate this with great folklore and enthusiasm.
Puja Samagri- milk, ghee, curd, honey, earthen lamps, flowers, panch mewa, kheer, bilva leaves, dhatura, meetha paan, bhang, sandalwood paste, and janeu.
Mahashivratri 2024: Puja Vidhi

Take Bath - Wake up early in the morning and take a bath. Some people visit Haridwar, Rishikesh, Varanasi and other sacred places to take holy bath in Ganga river. If you are at home and want to perform puja so you need to take essentials for the puja.

Visit Temple - You should visit the Shiva Temple to perform puja to shiva lingam and perform abhisheakam or Rudrabhishekam.

Observing fast - This day is considered the mos sacred day to observe fast. Some people observe nirjala vrat and some take only fruits and this is how they worship Lord Shiva and seek blessings.

Chanting Mantras - Chanting Mantras is an essential part of the Puja. Chanting Panchakshari Mantra, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, Shiv Tandav Stotram and Rudrashtakam is considered meritorious.

Reading Holy Books - One must get involved in reading holy books associated with Lord Shiva such as Shiv Chalisa and other hindu scriptures and this is also a great way to get involve in religious activities.

Cultural Celebrations - Participate in cultural events, bhajans, and bhakti sessions organized by temples or community organizations to celebrate the festival in a joyful and festive atmosphere.

Stayin Awake all night - This is a festival of staying awake all night that why is known as the great night of Lord Shiva. This is a great way to show you gratitude to the supreme power and spend you night chanting, reading and performing religious activities.

Meditation - Spend your time in doing meditation and introspection. Connect yourself with the divine power and seek enligtenment.

Distribute Prasad - Before breaking your fast, you should distribute the bhog prasad to all the family members.

Break your fast - After spending whole night remembering Lord Shiva then next day you can break your fast in the morning and eat sattvik food.

Mantras

Om Namah Shivaye..!!
Om Trayambhakam Yajamahe Sugadhim Pushti Vardhanam Urvarukmiv Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritaat..!!

Mahshivratri 2024: FAQs

When is Maha Shivratri 2024?
Mahashivratri is being celebrated today i.e., March 8, 2024.
How Maha Shivratri is celebrated?
Devotees celebrate Mahashivratri festival with great pomp and show. They observe fast, perform hawan, perform abhishekam to shiva lingam and stay awake all the night to seek blessings of Lord Shiva.

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