Maha Shivaratri, is a Hindu Festival organised and celebrated for honouring Lord Shiva, the God of destruction. This festival falls on the 13th or 14th day of the month February or March. However, each and every month of the luni-solar Hindu calendar there is a Shivaratri. Maha Shivaratri is considered to be the ‘Great Nights of Shiva’. This festival is celebrated in order to overcome darkness and ignorance. This festival is celebrated by chanting mantras, fasting, meditating, etc. Many devotees of Lord Shiva, keep them awake on the night of Shivaratri. The origin of this festival is unknown and is known by other names like ‘Har Ratri’.
Unlike all the other festivals, which are celebrated during the day, this festival is celebrated during the night time. Devotees or individuals who are worshiping Lord Shiva on this special day, tend to stay in the Shiva Temple, Chant mantras, keep themselves awake and many people go on a pilgrimage trip to jyotirlingam temples.
Rituals and Celebrations of Maha Shivaratri 2018:
According to the Lunar calendar, there is a Shivaratri on each and every month and there are a total of 12 Shivaratri per year. However, only one time of the year this Shivaratri, is organized as a grand festival and named as Maha Shivarari. This grand festival is also mentioned in many puranas like Skanda Purana, Linga Purana, Padma Purana, etc.
It is also believed that when we make offering to the Shiva icon like Linga, we can get over our sins and start fresh and choose a virtuous path to Mount Kailash, which is considered as Home of Lord Shiva. There are also dance festivals conducted at different parts of our country like Chidambaram, Konark, Khajuraho, Modhera, etc. This ritual is named as ‘Natyanjali’, which means ‘Worship through Dance’.
Including this, Jyothirlingam Shiva temples like Varanasi and Somnath are famous for this festival. All over the world, Hindus follows this festival according to their comfort and liking. In addition to this, they also offer water, milk, flowers like akwan, bhaang to the Shiva idol. They also consider this day to be the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati.
Date, Puja Time and Muhurat 2018:
Since this festival is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, the date tend to change every year. However, this mostly falls in the month of February or march.
- Date: February 13th, 2018, Tuesday
- Nishita Kaal Puja Time: 00:09 – 00:59
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Maha Shivaratri Parana time: 06:50 – 15:26
- Date: February 14th, 2018
Puja Timing:
- Ratri 1st Prahar puja Time: 18:18 – 21:26
- Ratri 2nd Prahar puja Time: 21:26 – 00:34
- Ratri 3rd Prahar puja Time: 00:34 – 03:42
- Ratri 4th Prahar puja Time: 03:42 – 06:50
Maha Shivratri Images HD Wallpapers Photos Cover Pics For Facebook Whatsapp 2018
We have collected very nice good pictures of Lord Shiva and messages to send in WhatsApp or wish in FB.
