Festival muhurat
Maha Shivaratri 2026
Maha Shivaratri 2026 is on Sunday, 15 February 2026. The Nishita Kaal puja in New Delhi is 12:09 am – 1:01 am, 16 Feb. See the four prahar puja times, parana, Chaturdashi times and timings for 15 cities.
Maha Shivaratri · in New Delhi
Sunday, 15 February 2026
Nishita puja (midnight)
12:09 am – 1:01 am, 16 Feb
52 min
- First prahar puja
- 6:11 pm – 9:23 pm
- Second prahar puja
- 9:23 pm – 12:35 am, 16 Feb
- Third prahar puja
- 12:35 am – 3:47 am, 16 Feb
- Fourth prahar puja
- 3:47 am – 6:59 am, 16 Feb
- Parana (breaking the fast)
- 6:59 am – 3:24 pm, 16 Feb
- Chaturdashi begins
- 5:05 pm
- Chaturdashi ends
- 5:35 pm, 16 Feb
Timings in other cities
| City | Date | Nishita puja (midnight) |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:09 am – 1:01 am, 16 Feb |
| Mumbai | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:27 am – 1:17 am, 16 Feb |
| Kolkata | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:25 pm – 12:16 am, 16 Feb |
| Chennai | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:58 pm – 12:47 am, 16 Feb |
| Bengaluru | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:09 am – 12:58 am, 16 Feb |
| Hyderabad | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:05 am – 12:55 am, 16 Feb |
| Pune | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:24 am – 1:13 am, 16 Feb |
| Ahmedabad | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:28 am – 1:19 am, 16 Feb |
| Jaipur | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:15 am – 1:06 am, 16 Feb |
| Lucknow | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:55 pm – 12:46 am, 16 Feb |
| Chandigarh | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:11 am – 1:02 am, 16 Feb |
| Patna | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:38 pm – 12:29 am, 16 Feb |
| Varanasi | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:46 pm – 12:37 am, 16 Feb |
| Ranchi | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:37 pm – 12:28 am, 16 Feb |
| Bhopal | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:09 am – 12:59 am, 16 Feb |
Each city's timings come from its own sunrise, sunset, moonrise and lagna, in Indian Standard Time.
Timings outside India (local time)
| City | Date | Nishita puja (midnight) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:43 pm – 12:36 am, 16 Feb |
| Edison, New Jersey | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:45 pm – 12:38 am, 16 Feb |
| Chicago | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:38 pm – 12:31 am, 16 Feb |
| Houston | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:10 am – 1:01 am, 16 Feb |
| San Francisco | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:57 pm – 12:50 am, 16 Feb |
| Toronto | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:04 am – 12:58 am, 16 Feb |
| London | Sun, 15 Feb | 11:46 pm – 12:42 am, 16 Feb |
| Dubai | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:07 am – 12:58 am, 16 Feb |
| Singapore | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:55 am – 1:43 am, 16 Feb |
| Sydney | Sun, 15 Feb | 12:48 am – 1:31 am, 16 Feb |
Each city's timings use its own sunrise, sunset, moonrise and lagna, in local time with daylight saving where it applies. The tithi is judged by local sunrise and sunset, so the festival can fall on a different date abroad than in India.
Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, is Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna (Magha in the amanta calendar). Devotees fast, stay awake through the night and offer water, milk, bel leaves and dhatura to the Shiva linga, chanting Om Namah Shivaya.
It falls on the day whose Nishita Kaal (the midnight muhurta) is in Chaturdashi, and Nishita is also the most important time for the puja. Those who worship through the night hold four pujas, one in each prahar (quarter) of the night from sunset to sunrise.
Parana is done the next morning after sunrise, before Chaturdashi ends and within the first three quarters of the day.
Times for Indian cities are Indian Standard Time; times abroad are local time. They match established panchangs to within a minute or two. For a city not listed, the nearest city is usually within a few minutes.
Festival and vrat calendars
Read in the puja
- Shiv Chalisa
The forty-verse prayer to Lord Shiva, read on Mondays, in Shravan and on Maha Shivaratri for peace and protection.
Shiv Aarti
FAQ
Maha Shivaratri FAQs
When is Maha Shivaratri in 2026?
On Sunday, 15 February 2026. The Nishita Kaal puja in New Delhi is 12:09 am – 1:01 am, 16 Feb, and parana is 6:59 am – 3:24 pm, 16 Feb.
What are the four prahar pujas?
The night from sunset to sunrise is split into four equal prahars, and Shiva is worshipped in each: by tradition, abhishek with milk in the first, curd in the second, ghee in the third and honey in the fourth.
What should be offered to the Shiva linga?
Water, raw milk, bel leaves, dhatura, bhang, white flowers, sandalwood and fruit. Tulsi and ketaki flowers are not offered to Shiva.
When should I break the Shivaratri fast?
The next day after sunrise and before Chaturdashi ends; the exact parana time is given above.
When is Maha Shivaratri 2026 in the USA, UK and other countries?
New York: Sunday, 15 February 2026, Nishita puja (midnight) 11:43 pm – 12:36 am, 16 Feb. London: Sunday, 15 February 2026, Nishita puja (midnight) 11:46 pm – 12:42 am, 16 Feb. Times are local. The table above lists Edison, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Toronto, Dubai, Singapore and Sydney.