Maha Shivratri 2024: Everything you should know about Shubh muhurat, puja timings, vidhi, and samagri

Learn the lucky times, the puja procedures, and everything you need to know to celebrate Maha Shivratri 2024, a famous Hindu holiday honouring Lord Shiva.

Every year, in February or March, Hindus celebrate Maha Shivratri, a holiday dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is observed on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna, or Magha, in accordance with the Hindu calendar. It is one of the most eagerly awaited days of the year for Lord Shiva's followers. In order to give Lord Shiva sincere and fervent prayers on this day, believers rise early and fast all day. Numerous locations conduct the Rudra Abhishek Puja, which involves bathing the Shiva linga in a concoction of milk, honey, yoghurt, and gangajal. Maha Shivratri is observed with great grandeur and ceremony in a number of temples around the nation. From puja rituals to Shubh Muhurat, Everything you need to know about the lucky festival is provided here.

 Maha Shivratri 2024 shubh muhurat and puja timings

This year the significant Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri will be observed on Friday, March 8. According to Drik Pachang, the auspicious shubh muhurat or puja timings, are as follows:

Shivaratri Parana time-06:37 AM to 15:29 PM, March 9

Ratri First Prahar puja time -18:25 PM to 21:28 PM, March 8

Ratri Second Prahar puja time -21:28 PM to 11:57 PM, March 8

Ratri Third Prahar puja time -11:57 PM, March 8 to 02:58 AM, March 9, 2024

Ratri Fourth Prahar puja time - 02:58 AM, March 8 to 06:00 AM, March 9, 2024

Chaturdashi Tithi begins -21:57 PM, March 08, 2024

Nishita Kaal puja time - 11:33 PM, March 8, 2024 to 12:21 AM, March 9, 2024

Chaturdashi Tithi ends - 18:17 PM, March 09, 2024

Maha Shivratri puja with vidhi and samagri

The bulk of people observe fasting on Maha Shivaratri. The method that fasting is observed has evolved over time. The puja process as outlined in religious texts is rarely followed on Shivaratri. In the contemporary Puja Vidhi custom, worshippers visit Shiva temples as soon as they wake up. Most devotees finish their Shiva Linga Puja by noon, as most temples close at that time to make room for nighttime darshan.

The majority of Shiva temples are only open late for darshan and not for puja ceremonies. Devotees perform abhishek with milk and water in the morning and bring dhatura, bilva leaves, and bilva fruit as offerings to the Shiva linga. Many distribute sweet liquids laced with bhang in the form of prasad. The cannabis plant, commonly referred to as "bhang," is acknowledged by the general public as a gift from Lord Shiva. Most followers just eat fruits and drink throughout the day on a fast.

It is generally permissible to eat a meal during the fasting period in the evening. On the day after Maha Shivaratri, the meal—which primarily consists of plain rice and a yellow curry made with gramme flour—is offered in homage to the goddess Lord Shiva. After that, it is given to a Baba by the name of Bham Bole, who represents Lord Shiva symbolically. After this offering, the meal will only be consumed by family members.