Maha Shivratri 2019 Date in India: Maha Shivaratri will be celebrated on March 4 this year. (Source: Designed by Gargi Singh) Maha Shivratri 2019 Date in India: Maha Shivaratri will be celebrated on March 4 this year. (Source: Designed by Gargi Singh) Maha Shivratri 2019 Date in India: Maha Shivratri, which translates to ‘great night of Shiva’ is a festival celebrated by the devotees of Lord Shiva across India. The festival is celebrated on the fourth night of the new moon during Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun or Magh. The day is celebrated to venerate Lord Shiva, who is considered to be the ‘destroyer of evil’, according to Hindu mythology. This year it falls on March 4. It is believed that the stars in the northern hemisphere are at optimum positions on this day, and help raise the spiritual energy of a person. The festival also marks the end of winters and the onset of spring, and is believed to be the day of convergence of Shiva and Shakti. The Chaturdashi Tithi this year begins at 4.28 pm and ends at 7.07 am (March 5). Unlike most other festivals, Maha Shivaratri is observed at night and is a solemn occasion. Most people observe a fast on this day and offer prayers and fruits at temples. The celebrations also include an all-night vigil at temples, which are adorned with lights and colourful decorations. This is also a time to focus on restraint, forgiveness, repentance, honesty and kindness. Mahashivratri 2019 Puja Timings and Muhurat Chaturdashi Tithi Begins : 4:28 pm on March 4 Chaturdashi Tithi Ends : 7:07 pm on March 5<doc-sep>Maha Shivratri (महाशिवरात्रि) is considered to be the one of the most auspicious Hindu festival and is annually celebrated on the 13th night and 14th day in the month of Phalgun as per Hindu calendar. The festival marks the beginning of summer season and falls on March 4 this year.Maha Shivratri (महाशिवरात्रि) translates as ‘the great night of Shiva’, and it is believed that the devotees of the lord Shiva attain moksha on this day. People stay up all night, visit Shiva temples, observes fasts, offer milk and seek forgiveness for their past sins. The day denotes victory of good over evil. Here’s the significance, history and mythological legends associated with this festival.Many celebrate Mahashivratri (महाशिवरात्रि) as the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed those who worship them are bestowed with happiness and prosperity.As per another legend, Lord Shiva performed tandav (referred as glorious dance of creation, preservation and destruction) on this day and he is regarded as destroyer of evil by other gods.One of the most popular legends associated with this festival is of ‘Samundar Manthan.’ It is believed that Lord Shiva drank poison that was churning into the ocean and saved the world from destruction. That’s also believed to be the reason behind is blue-coloured neck and also, why is called the destroyer of evil.Also, another legend talks about a hunter who got tired while looking for his prey. He climbed up a tree to sit on a branch and started dropping leaves on the floor to attract a deer. Interestingly, he was unaware that there is a shivlingam beneath the tree and the leaves have been falling on it. Lord Shiva got impressed with his patience and appeared in front of him. He blessed him with wisdom and the awestuck hunter decided he won’t eat meat ever again.The legends might differ from community to community, but most of the devotees pour milk on shivling, chant ‘om namah shivaye’, perform meditation and observe fasts entire day. Devotees also organise cultural programmes and fairs to celebrate the occasion.Lord Shiva is known with several names including Shambhu, Shankar, Mahesha or Mahadev and is also regarded as the teacher of all the teachers. The festival surely holds a great significance in Indian mythology and is celebrated with great gusto amongst the devotees and devotees.<doc-sep>Mahashivratri, also known as the ‘Great night of Lord Shiva,’ is a Hindu festival observed by devotees from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with much fervour. While Shivratri falls on the 14th day of each month of the lunar calendar, Mahashivratri is celebrated only once a year before the arrival of summer. On this holy day, devotees worship Lord Shiva and seek his divine guidance. In Kashmir Shaivism, the festival is called Har-ratri or Herath. On this holy day to worship Lord Shiva, be meditative and seek his divine guidance. While the festival is popularly celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, there is much more significance to this festival. Mahashivratri date and time Mahashivratri 2019 will be celebrated across the country between March 4 and 5. Though there are several types of rituals which devotees are interested in, people can start performing puja and observing the holy festival as early as 6:49 am on March 4. Significance of Maha Shivratri For instance, according to Puranas, Shivrati marks the night Lord Shiva saved the human kind by consuming a pot of poison during Samudra Manthan-mythical churning of the ocean. According to Shaivism, the festival marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the divine dance of creation, preservation and, destruction. On this day, to please their Lord, devotees observe the special Maha Shivratri fast and throng Shiva temples across the country to offer fruits and milk to the Shivaling, an iconic representation of Shiva. While some perform Puja to pray for moksha or salvation, many women pray to be blessed with a good husband. Many temples across the country organise fairs and cultural programmes to mark the occasion. This year’s Maha Shivratri will also mark the closing day of the mega holy event Ardh Kumbh Mela. On this auspicious day, devotees will take the last holy dip in the sacred waters considered a confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers. Devotees conclude the festival by chanting some powerful Shiva mantras including Om Namah Shivaay, chanted for eradicating fear, Om Namo Bhagwate Rudraay, to seek Lord Shiva's blessings, and Mahamrityunjay mantra, to increase increasing longevity. Customs and rituals of Maha Shivratri While fasting is a significant part of custom, the rituals also call for preparation of satvik delicacies that are consumed during the fast and after breaking the fast post offering the final prayers. Fruits are an irreplaceable part of every religious festival in India. From offering to the deities to consuming during fast, no celebration is complete without fruits. On Shivratri, many devotees, after performing their morning prayers, indulge in some lips smacking fruit chaat. For people who like to constantly munch on something to feel full, dry fruits are the best option. A bowl of dry fruits is perfect to keep the stomach busy so that is doesn’t constantly crave for food. In beverages, people consume fresh fruit juice, milk, tea, fruit milk shakes, thandai and lemonade. Potato chips, sabudana khichdi and tikki, kuttu atta pakaodas and millet pulao are considered satvik food items and are consumed during and post fast. Dry fruit kheer, badam barfi, coconut barfi, potato halwa, rabdi and sabudana kheer are some of the traditional desserts that are considered the heart of this festival. From standing in long temple queues to munching on traditional dishes, the festival not only celebrates the divinity of Lord Shiva but also brings families together. Mahashivratri: Muhuruta and Puja Timings: Maha Shivaratri Parana will be observed between 6:49 am to 3:33 pm. Nishita Kaal Puja time: 12:14 am to 1:03 am. The duration will be 49 minutes. Ratri First Prahar Puja Time: 6:28 pm to 9:33 pm Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time: 9:33 pm to 12:38 am Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time: 12:38 am to 3:44 am Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time: 3:44 am to 6:49 am (With inputs from ANI)<doc-sep>
Maha Shivratri 2019: This year, Mahashivaratri will be celebrated on March 4. (Source: Designed by Gargi Singh) Maha Shivratri 2019: This year, Mahashivaratri will be celebrated on March 4. (Source: Designed by Gargi Singh) Maha Shivratri 2019: The Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri is observed by with much fervour across the country. Maha Shivratri, is being celebrated on March 4 this year, falls once a year during the months of February and March. However, Shivratri falls on the 14th day of each month of the lunar calendar. Maha Shivratri, also known as the ‘Great night of Lord Shiva’ is celebrated in various forms depending on the perspective. History Behind Maha Shivratri Maha Shivratri celebrations are associated with several stories about Lord Shiva, who is also known as ‘The Destroyer’ within the Hindu trinity. Generally, Maha Shivratri is celebrated as the anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, but there are many other stories in various texts and scriptures describing why Maha Shivratri is celebrated. According to Puranas, Shivratri is celebrated as the day Shiva saved the world from the pot of poison that emerged during the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan. Yet another story goes on to say that Shivratri maks the day Brahma and Vishnu got involved in an argument about their supremacy. It is believed that an angry Lord Shiva punished them by taking the form of a massive fire that spread across the length of the universe. Vishnu and Brahma then got into the race to find the end of the fire and prove their prowess. However, Brahma is believed to have resorted to a lie, and angered Shiva greatly who cursed that no one would ever pray to him. In the Shivaism tradition, this is the night when Shiva performed the glorious dance of creation. Importance and Significance of Maha Shivratri On this day, followers of Lord Shiva observe the special Maha Shivratri vrat (fast). Devotees throng Shiva temples across the country, perform late evening puja, offer milk to the Shivaling and also pray for moksha. Many spend the night chanting verses and hymns in praise of Lord Shiva. Women also pray to be blessed with a good husband and a happy married life. Some temples even organise fairs and other cultural programmes on this day. Shivratri has a great significance for the Kumbh Mela also. The festival marks the end of the mega holy event which is celebrated after every 12 years. This year, the ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela will end on March 4 when devotees will take the last holy dip on the auspicious day. It is believed that the people who fast on this day and offer prayers to Lord Shiva are blessed with good luck. The most popular Maha Shivratri celebrations take place in Ujjain, which is believed to be the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. Large processions are carried out throughout the city, with people thronging the streets to catch a glimpse of the revered idol of Lord Shiva.