Mahashivaratri

Mahashivaratri, meaning “Great Night of Shiva,” is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu tradition, celebrated each year during the dark fortnight of the lunar month of Maagha (January–February). It commemorates the divine union of Shiva and his consort, Parvati, and also marks the night when Shiva performed the Tandava, the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and dissolution. The festival is observed by millions of Hindus across India and the diaspora, and is also widely celebrated in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and among Hindu communities worldwide.

The observance typically involves an all‑night vigil beginning at sunset, during which devotees keep lamps lit near a Shiva Linga, offer milk, honey, water, and sacred ash, and recite hymns such as the “Shivarathri Stotra.” Many practitioners fast for the entire day, abstaining from food and sometimes water, believing that the fasting improves spiritual purity and strengthens faith. Some also stay at temple premises, listening to discourses and participating in communal prayers. The lights and incense released during Mahashivaratri symbolize the removal of darkness and ignorance, and the spreading of divine knowledge.

The timing of Mahashivaratri is determined by the lunar calendar; it falls when the new moon occurs in the month of Maagha. The festival’s significance is closely linked to the wider Hindu belief that Shiva occupies a central role in the cosmic cycle. While the core practices remain similar, regional variations exist, such as the processions in South India, the “Nandaka” tradition in Bengal, and the “Losar” celebrations in Tibetan communities. Mahashivaratri exemplifies devotion to Shiva, reflecting themes of penance, redemption, and the eternal rhythm of existence.