Maha Shivaratri 2020 Date — Friday, February 21, 2020
When is Maha Shivaratri in 2020? Maha Shivaratri 2020 falls on Friday, February 21, 2020.
Observance: Maha Shivaratri. City calendars may vary slightly by sunrise and amanta or purnimanta tradition — confirm with your local mandir.
Maha Shivaratri 2020 — full list of dates
| Observance | Date & day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Shivaratri | Fri, 21 February 2020 | Four-prahar night puja |
| Amavasya (next day) | Fri, 24 January 2020 |
Why we celebrate
Great night of Shiva — marriage of Shiva-Parvati and the night Shiva performed the Tandava. Fasting and jagaran destroy sins.
How it is celebrated
All-night vigil, Shiva lingam abhishekam with milk, honey, bilva; Rudram, bhajan, and temple fairs across India.
Puja timing
Four prahars of night puja; Nishita kaal (midnight) is the most sacred for abhishekam. Fast from sunrise to next sunrise or until prasad.
Foods & offerings
Phalahar — fruits, milk, sabudana; no grains. Some eat one meal after midnight puja.
Rituals
- Bath and fasting from sunrise.
- Shiva lingam abhishekam each prahar with bilva.
- Om Namah Shivaya japa through the night.
- Visit temple for jagaran and Rudrabhishek if possible.
- Break fast after sunrise bath on next day with prasad.
Maha Shivaratri dates by year
| Year | Date & day |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Mon, 4 March 2019 |
| 2020 | Fri, 21 February 2020 |
| 2021 | Thu, 11 March 2021 |
| 2022 | Tue, 1 March 2022 |
| 2023 | Fri, 20 January 2023 |
Hindu festivals around Maha Shivaratri 2020
- Thaipusam 2020 date — Sun, 9 February 2020
- Holika Dahan 2020 date — Mon, 9 March 2020
- Holi 2020 date — Tue, 10 March 2020
- Vasant Panchami 2020 date — Thu, 30 January 2020
- Ugadi 2020 date — Wed, 25 March 2020
- Gudi Padwa 2020 date — Wed, 25 March 2020
- Chaitra Navratri 2020 date — Wed, 25 March 2020
- Pongal 2020 date — Wed, 15 January 2020
- Makar Sankranti 2020 date — Wed, 15 January 2020
- Ram Navami 2020 date — Thu, 2 April 2020
- Hanuman Jayanti 2020 date — Wed, 8 April 2020
- Vishu 2020 date — Mon, 13 April 2020
