Maha Shivratri 2025: Date, Puja, Story, Celebrations & More

By - April 9, 2024 - Festivals, India, Pilgrimage

India is a land of many religious and cultural festivals. Also, you will find diversities in these festivals in different regions of India. Yet, some festivals hold the same value throughout the country. Maha Shivratri is one of them. It is one of the most famous festivals in India. Also, it has great significance in the lives of Indian people. Find below all the details about the Maha Shivratri celebration in India.

What is Maha Shivratri?

The Maha Shivratri is a grand festival in India. It falls in the Indian month Phalgun. Shivaratri’s date may fall in February or March. The people of India celebrate this one-day festival to worship Lord Shiva. So, temples of Lord Shiva attract many pilgrims during The Maha Shivratri celebration in India. Shivratri Bhajan, fasting, and Shivratri Puja mark the day.

Besides the Maha Shivratri, there is another Shivratri known as Shravana Shivratri that falls in the rainy season. But, the rituals of Maha Shivratri differ from any other pujas of Lord Shiva. Moreover, the Hindus of most of the states in India celebrate Maha Shivratri. So, this festival holds more traditional values than many other festivals in India.

What is the story of the Maha Shivratri?

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Indian mythologies tell many stories about the Maha Shivratri celebration. Most Hindus believe that Lord Shiva got married to Goddess Parvati on this day. Yet, there are many other stories related to Shivratri. As per one story, the great sage once cursed Lord Indra and other gods.

So, all the other gods including Indra lost their powers. Then Lord Vishnu suggested they go for Samudra Manthan or churning of the oceans. During this Samudra Manthan, a threatening poison emerged. This poison was so powerful that it could demolish the whole world. So, Lord Shiva drank this poison and saved the world.

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His throat turned blue after drinking this poison. So, he is also known as Neelkantha (someone with a blue throat). Shivratri celebration occurs to celebrate this event.

Another story talks about the tough competition between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Both started fighting claiming one was superior to the other. Lord Shiva wanted to teach them a lesson. So, he took a form of a massive fire column and covered the universe.

Both Brahma and Vishnu wanted to prove how powerful they were. So, both of them wanted to find the end of the fire column. For this, Brahma took the form of a swan and Vishnu of a Varaha (human body with a boar’s face). But, it was very difficult to find the end of the fire column. On his way, Brahma found a Ketaki flower.

When he enquired where the flower had come from, she replied that she was from the top of the fiery column. This made Brahma make a plan for showing his supremacy to the world. He planned to take the flower as a witness to show that he had reached the top of the fire column.

His dishonesty made Lord Shiva angry. So, he took his real form and cursed Brahma that he would never be worshipped by anyone. Also, he banned the Ketaki flower from being used for any Pujas. On this day Shiva took the form of Shiva Linga. Thus, people celebrate Maha Shivaratri on this day in the Indian month of Phalguna every year. People believe that Lord Shiva showers happiness and blessings on everyone on this auspicious day.

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There is also another story behind the Shivratri Puja being performed the whole night on the Maha Shivratri. Once, a poor man went to the forest to cut wood. But he lost his way in the forest. He was so scared of the wild animals, he climbed up a tree. He decided to be alert the whole night so that he did not fall from the tree.

This man was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. So, he plucked one leaf from the tree and dropped it down chanting the god’s name “Shiva”. When he woke up in the morning, he found a Shiva Linga below the tree. It was the Linga on which he had dropped a thousand leaves the whole night unknowingly.

This tree was a Bel Tree (wood apple). This gesture of the poor man pleased Lord Shiva. Hence, people worship Lord Shiva the whole night on the MahaShivratri. Moreover, the devotees who keep a fast during the Shivratri celebration read this story on this day.

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The Maha Shivratri Celebration in India 2025

Shivratri Celebration has great significance in the lives of the Hindus. They consider this day to be one of the purest days of the year. Also, they perform many rituals on this special day of Shivratri.

Men and women keep a fast the whole day. Young girls try fast to get a husband like Shiva. Married women keep fast for the well-being of their husbands and children. They pour water and milk on Shiva Linga at night. Also, they offer flowers and sweets to the Linga. So, you can witness giant crowds at all the temples of Shiva in India on The Maha Shivaratri.

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The festival occurs during the period of the waning moon. The only moon one can see is the crescent moon on Lord Shiva’s head. It is also a sign that the moon will rise the next night. Many temples or local clubs organize special cultural events for this festival. Also, you can hear Shivratri Bhajans throughout the night in temples and other holy places.

People from different regions in India celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm. People in Madhya Pradesh take a holy dip in Shiv Sagar Tank near Khajuraho. Also, the Maha Shivratri celebration continues for 10 days at Matangeshwar Temple in Bundelkhand of this state. Besides, people in West Bengal have a tradition of making 4 Lingas and worshipping them at four different times throughout the night. They bathe the Linga with milk, curd, ghee, and honey.

Also, at Aluva Shiva Temple in Kerala, you can witness Shiva Lingarising out of the sand. Many pilgrims gather here to worship the Linga.

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There is special Shivratri food. The people keeping a fast on this day avoid eating rice or wheat on this day. So, they eat Shabudana Kheer, Pakodas, fruits, and sweets on this day. Besides, Shiva Linga marks the fertility of the land. Thus, the day after the Shivaratri celebration marks the beginning of the spring season.

So, you can see various flowers blooming from the next day onwards. All in all, The Maha Shivratri brings fresh energy to the earth.

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When is the Maha Shivratri of 2025?

The Maha Shivratri Date: The Maha Shivratri in 2025 is on the 26th of February.

FAQ Maha Shivratri 2025

What should we not eat during The Maha Shivratri?

We should avoid eating any dishes of rice and wheat. Also, we should not take common salt during the Maha Shivratri celebration.

Is The Maha Shivratri a government holiday?

The Maha Shivratri is a public holiday in most of the states. Most of the schools and colleges remain closed on this day.

What are the main festivals in India?

The main festivals of India are Diwali, Holi, Dusshera, The MahaShivratri, Makar Sankranti, Eid, and Christmas, etc.

Which flower should not be offered to Lord Shiva?

You should not offer Champaka and Ketaki flowers to Lord Shiva.

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2 thoughts on “Maha Shivratri 2025: Date, Puja, Story, Celebrations & More”

  1. varsharani

    Wow! what a brief post about Mahashivratri. You really narrate very well about What is the story of the Mahashivratri? I really like the way you explain What is Mahashivratri? I got to know so much about Mahashivratri from your post like date, Puja, Story, etc. Thank you so much.

    Reply
  2. merakhazana

    This content is fantastic. Your content is very useful keep it up, this content has taught me a lot, thanks. I will share with my friends.

    Reply

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