Maha Shivaratri 2026
Maha Shivaratri 2026 is on Sunday, 15 February 2026. Nishita kaal puja in New Delhi: 00:09 (next day) to 01:00 (next day). The tithi runs from 17:05, 15 February 2026 to 17:34, 16 February 2026.
Maha Shivaratri 2026 date and puja time in major cities
| City | Date | Nishita kaal puja |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 00:09 (next day) – 01:00 (next day) |
| Mumbai | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 00:27 (next day) – 01:17 (next day) |
| Ahmedabad | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 00:28 (next day) – 01:18 (next day) |
| Kolkata | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 23:25 – 00:15 (next day) |
| Chennai | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 23:58 – 00:47 (next day) |
| Bengaluru | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 00:09 (next day) – 00:58 (next day) |
| Hyderabad | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 00:05 (next day) – 00:54 (next day) |
| Varanasi | Sunday, 15 February 2026 | 23:46 – 00:37 (next day) |
About Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to worship the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, The festival is observed on the caturdaśī of kṛṣṇapakṣa of the month of Māgha or Phālguṇa. The discrepancy is only in the name of the month and the festival is observed on the same lunar night across the regions.
Textual origins
The origin of Maha Shivaratri is mentioned mainly in Puranic literature. One of the first mentions appears in the Shiva Purana, which links the story of the hunter Gurudruha with Shivaratri. The story of Gurudruha, who is also referred to as Lubdhaka, is later found in the Javanese didactic text Siwaratrikalpa, which is dated to being composed between 1466 and 1478. The festival is also mentioned in the Linga Purana and the Skanda Purana.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), shortened.
Questions people ask
When is Maha Shivaratri in 2026?
Maha Shivaratri is on Sunday, 15 February 2026 (New Delhi). In some regions the date can be a day apart; see the table above for your city.
What is the nishita kaal puja for Maha Shivaratri 2026?
In New Delhi it is 00:09 (next day) to 01:00 (next day), during Nishita kaal (midnight) when the festival's tithi is running.
Why is Maha Shivaratri celebrated?
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to worship the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, The festival is observed on the caturdaśī of kṛṣṇapakṣa of the month of Māgha or Phālguṇa.
Other years: Maha Shivaratri 2027
Updated: 2026-10-18 · Calculated for the place shown, with Lahiri ayanamsha. How we calculate