Shivratri is a popular festival in India. This festival is also known as Shiv’s Night which is a sacred festival for the people who believe in god and the creator Lord Shiva. So, what is shivratri? Before we can understand what rituals are performed on this day, we should first know the shivratri meaning. Maha Shivratri is a very big and popular Hindu festival that people all across the globe celebrate to honour the God Shiva. There are various kinds of supreme powers and gods in Hinduism and Lord Shiva is one of them. He is also the creator and destroyer. The 3 supreme Gods of Hinduism are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

People believe that Shiva is a symbol of creation, strength, and destruction. He has the power to create and destroy. He is the supreme force that keeps the universe moving. Holy saints also say that Shiva is seen as both a non-being and a being that will give life its essence. There are different mahashivratri stories that are connected with this day. We will read out here everything from which you will get to know the real meaning of Shivratri, its important dates in 2025, its uniqueness and its significance.

Why is Maha Shivratri so Unique?

For all the Hindus, Maha Shivratri is an important Hindu festival. We celebrate Lord Shiva who is among the main lords in Hinduism along with Brahma and Vishnu. People worship Lord Shiva because he is the God of creation and destruction. He also has that supreme force that will drive the cosmic cycle. The meaning of mahashivratri is different for different people. Some people take this day as the wedding day of Maa Parvati and Shiv Ji. Many others believe that this day of Maha Shivratri is observed because of the importance of Samundra Manthan.  This festival's meaning, shivratri story and importance make this festival unique.

The celebration of Lord Shiva focuses on the cosmic creation and the ultimate destruction which means new beginnings. This interlinking of creation and destruction is Tandav which we call as the fundamental aspect of Lord Shiva's nature.

Shivratri is also popular because on Maha Shivratri people visit temples to offer prayers. They perform their rituals, offer flowers and sweets, chant mantras, and then seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. There are so many Indian temples that signify the importance of Lord Shiva. Also, the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Shiva are so famous that people visit them on Maha shivratri.

Maha Shivaratri Vrat’s Story

So, we can say that Maha Shivaratri is rich in legends. With this, many of us must have learned what is shivratri but what is the story behind it. One of the most famous stories of shivratri is about Goddess Parvati's intense penance to win Lord Shiva and make him her husband. There are so many mythological accounts that will tell you that Maa Parvati has incredible devotion that led her to marry the great Lord Shiva. This marriage happened on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Falgun. So, we can say that this festival is the reason why Maha Shivaratri holds such a big importance and is considered auspicious.

We will now learn about the next popular mahashivratri story which will tell you about The Garuda Purana. This Purana will tell you a different story about shivratri. This will highlight the importance of this day about a hunter who went into the forest with his loyal dog for a hunting trip. But, he came back without anything. He was so weary and hungry so he took a break near a pond where he spotted a Shiva Lingam under a Bilva tree. 

That hunter was looking for some relief so he took a few Bilva leaves from the tree which by chance fell onto the Shiva Ling. To wash his feet, he sprinkled water from the pond, and accidentally splashed some water on the Shiva Lingam.

When he was doing all these things, one arrow fell from his hand which caused him to bow before the Shiva Lingam. Without knowing anything, he performed the entire ritual of Shiva Puja on Shivaratri. When that hunter passed away, the messengers of Lord Yama came to take his soul but the divine people from Lord Shiva's sacred team appeared to protect him.

Mahashivratri 2025

These days, people have a lot of confusion about the date of the festival because almost all the festivals are celebrated over two days. In 2025, Shivratri will fall on the 26th of February. The auspicious time for Nishita Kaal Puja which is the midnight worship will happen from 12:09 AM to 12:59 AM on February 27. Once you know all these dates and times, you can perform the rituals effectively. For all the devotees of Shiva, it is important to know the meaning of mahashivratri and then proceed with fasting and other rituals to get its full results.

How People Celebrate Maha Shivaratri in India?

India has different people from different states so its celebration is different for many people. This auspicious festival is celebrated in many ways across different cultures and states. The people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh keep fast on this day and eat after sunset after offering puja to Lord Shiva. They also chant and sing bhajans to keep themselves motivated and energized all day long.

The people of Tamil Nadu celebrate this festival at the Annamalai temple, where devotees of Lord Shiva participate in a 14-kilometre barefoot walk. This is known as Girivalam or Giri Pradakshina which they have to do around the temple which is situated atop the hill. So, it is obvious that people of different states have different beliefs and shivratri meaning associated with it.

In the town of Mandi, people organize a Mandi fair that attracts devotees from all over India. People also believe that 200 Hindu Gods and Goddesses gather in Mandi on this day which is very sacred in different ways. The West Bengal people celebrate shivratri differently as unmarried girls travel to Tarakeswar which is a sacred site to offer prayers. They do this so that they can find an ideal husband like Shiva.

• Women devotees bathe the Shivalinga with milk and pray for the well-being of their sons and husbands. According to Hindu mythology, Parvati, the wife of Shiva, prayed on this day to protect her husband from any evil. Since then, Maha Shivaratri has been regarded as a significant day for women.
• Early in the morning, devotees bathe in the Ganges or any other holy water body. They perform purification rituals by worshipping the sun, Shiva, and Vishnu. After bathing, devotees wear clean clothes and carry pots of water to the temple to pour over the Shivalinga.
• Devotees adorn the linga with garlands and flowers, and they also offer fruits and incense sticks. These acts of devotion to Shiva are performed to shield the world from evil and promote the well-being of humanity.

Why Do People Keep Fasting and Avoid Certain Things on Mahashivratri?

Lord Shiva Maha Shivratri has importance because of which people and devotees like to keep fast. Keeping fast is not only good for connecting with god but also good for detoxification of people who are keeping it.

Fasting during Maha Shivratri is a form of worship and a way to purify both body and mind. Devotees during the Lord Shiva Maha Shivratri do different fasting practices. Some people like to keep a complete fast in which they don't consume food and water. While many others might consume fruits, milk, or light meals. Also, those who don't keep fast make light food items without garlic and onion. All types of fast are seen as an offering to Lord Shiva which showcases the devotion and discipline of the devotees.

Fasting on shivratri is not about avoiding food but it also involves channeling the energy and focus to the divine source. Most people on this day keep fasting to be away from distractions and connect with god for spiritualism. So, they chant mantras, read sacred texts, and meditate about different forms of Lord Shiva.

There is a sacred Shaivism tradition that says that fasting shows a very sacred meaning of mahashivratri. It is also a way of self-purification because fasting will be helpful in cleansing the body of toxins and impurities. The devotees will also be able to promote their physical health and mental clarity. Additionally, fasting on sacred days like Maha Shivratri helps diminish the ego and get self-realization.

How Do We Celebrate Shivratri?

Lord Shiva Maha Shivratri celebration will be different but it is celebrated with devotion around the globe. Temples especially those which are dedicated to Lord Shiva like -  Bhimashanker, Triambakeshwar, Nageshwar, Deoghar and others are decorated and rituals are performed beautifully and spiritually.  The practices may differ by region and state but they also perform some common things as Hindus observe Maha Shivratri.

Performing the Shivratri Pooja

Shivratri meaning tells us how it is important for Hindus. The pooja is the main thing that people start their day of the Maha Shivratri. Pooja is a central part of the celebration which devotees do after taking baths at home or in holy rivers and wearing clean clothes. This puja of Lord Shiva Maha Shivratri celebration includes offering prayers and reciting mantras. “OM” is the word that connects devotees with the Shiva so they chant it like 108 or more times. This pooja takes place in the evening and continues throughout the night. At night, many people go to jaagran or do jaagran at their homes where they perform chanting, and meditation and offer sacred items to Lord Shiva.

Fasting and Spiritual Practices

The real meaning of mahashivratri is associated with fasting because it helps you to connect with God directly. This is because it is a part of the celebration where devotees also do other spiritual activities such as reading sacred books, reciting the Shiva Chalisa, chanting OM and engaging in prayer and reflection. Many people choose to keep a strict fast without water and food and others follow a lighter fasting that includes fruits and milk.

Chanting the Mantra

Om Namah Shivaya is a mantra that people like to chant on this day because this powerful mantra is recited continuously during the night. Chanting will help the devotees in the cleansing of the mind and soul. Also, it will bring peace, remove suffering, and give the blessings of Lord Shiva. People also do Jagran and stay awake all night to devote themselves to Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati.