Maha Shivratri dates
When Maha Shivratri falls in 2026, 2027 and 2028: the night and its niśītha (midnight) time, for Delhi and cities abroad.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Delhi, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Mumbai, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Kolkata, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Chennai, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Bengaluru, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Hyderabad, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Ahmedabad, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Pune, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Jaipur, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Lucknow, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 140 days. In London, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Friday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 140 days. In New York City, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Friday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 140 days. In Toronto, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Friday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Sydney, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Dubai, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Saturday, 6 March 2027
Maha Shivratri is in 139 days. In Singapore, the Caturdaśī holds all of Saturday night’s midnight and none of Sunday night’s, so Maha Shivratri is on Saturday.
Maha Shivratri dates, 2026 to 2028
Each city’s own time| Year | Delhi | London | New York City | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maha Shivratri 2026 | Sun 15 Feb Niśītha 00:09 – 01:00 (early Mon 16 Feb) | Sun 15 Feb Niśītha 23:46 – 00:42 | Sun 15 Feb Niśītha 23:43 – 00:36 | Sun 15 Feb Niśītha 00:47 – 01:30 (early Mon 16 Feb) |
| Maha Shivratri 2027 | Sat 6 Mar Niśītha 00:07 – 00:56 (early Sun 7 Mar) | Sat 6 Mar Niśītha 23:45 – 00:36 | Sat 6 Mar Niśītha 23:41 – 00:31 | Sat 6 Mar Niśītha 00:43 – 01:29 (early Sun 7 Mar) |
| Maha Shivratri 2028 | Wed 23 Feb Niśītha 00:08 – 00:59 (early Thu 24 Feb) | Wed 23 Feb Niśītha 23:46 – 00:40 | Wed 23 Feb Niśītha 23:42 – 00:34 | Wed 23 Feb Niśītha 00:46 – 01:30 (early Thu 24 Feb) |
Each year’s page lists all 16 cities and why each keeps its day. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 334–337
Every monthly Shivratri: Masik Shivratri 2026
Questions
From the Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 334–337, with the page for each.
When is Maha Shivratri?
In Delhi: Sunday, 15 February 2026, Saturday, 6 March 2027 and Wednesday, 23 February 2028. Each city keeps its own day by its own sunrise and sunset. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 334–337
What is the nishita kaal?
Niśītha is the middle of the night: two ghaṭikās around it, in Mādhava’s words, which this page takes as a fifteenth of the night centred on its midpoint. The texts that favour midnight say Śiva appeared then as the liṅga. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 334–335
How is Maha Shivratri different from the monthly Shivratri?
Maha Shivratri is the dark Caturdaśī that ends amānta Māgha. The Nirṇaya-sindhu also calls every dark Caturdaśī a Śivarātri and decides it by the same pradoṣa and midnight tests. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 334, 340
Why is the date different in the US or UK?
Maha Shivratri is decided by the Caturdaśī at pradoṣa and midnight at the city. The tithi begins and ends at the same moment everywhere, but sunrise and sunset come at different hours, so a city far to the west or east can keep another day. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 334–337
How the day is found
Read the methodology- The night
- The dark Caturdaśī ending amānta Māgha, by the pradoṣa and midnight tests. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 334–337.
- Niśītha
- Two ghaṭikās around the middle of the night (Mādhava, p. 335), taken as a fifteenth of the night centred on its midpoint: our reading.
- Pradoṣa
- Three muhūrtas after sunset.
- Sunrise and sunset
- At the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction, for the chosen city. Every date is that city’s own.
Sunrise and sunset at the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction · Lahiri ayanamsa for month names · each city’s own time · Swiss Ephemeris · Method