One of the most significant festivals for Hindus is Maha Shivaratri. The day is devoted to Lord Shiva and is observed with lavish celebrations all over India. On this day, devotees observe a fast and worship Lord Shiva to enlist his blessings. On Maha Shivaratri, it is believed that fasting and worshipping Lord Shiva for just one day will bring you blessings for a lifetime.
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According to the Hindu calendar, Maha Shivaratri occurs on chaturdashi tithi, or the fourteenth day of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Phalguna, which coincides with the Gregorian calendar months of February and March.
Maha Shivaratri will be observed this year on February 18 on a Saturday. The panchang predicts that Chaturdashi Tithi will begin on February 18 at 8.20 pm and end on February 19 at 4.18 pm. Here are the shubh muhurat, puja vidhi, and daily rituals.
According to the Hindu calendars of North and South India, this day falls in the months of Phalguna and Magha, respectively. Maha Shivaratri is commemorated on Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha according to the South Indian calendar, and on the 13th or 14th night of Krishna Paksha in Phalguna according to the Hindu calendar, with the Gregorian date staying the same, in other areas of India.
The Skanda Purana, Linga Purana, and Padma Purana are three Puranas that specifically reference the Maha Shivaratri. These Shaiva literature from the mediaeval past give many interpretations of this holiday and include fasting and devotion for Shiva emblems like the lingam.
This festival’s importance of the dance heritage has a long history. The Maha Shivaratri has historically brought together performers for yearly dance celebrations in significant Hindu temples like Konark, Khajuraho, Pattadakal, Modhera, and Chidambaram. At the Chidambaram temple, which is well-known for its sculptures depicting all dance mudras from the ancient Hindu canon of performance arts known as Natya Shastra, this event is known as Natyanjali, which literally means “worship via dance.” Parallel to this, Alexander Cunningham noted in 1864 that at the Khajuraho Shiva temples, a significant fair and dance event on Maha Shivaratri had Shaiva pilgrims camped out over miles around the temple complex.
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