Vrat · Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi
Masik Shivaratri 2026
Every month's Krishna Chaturdashi is a Shivaratri: Shiva is worshipped at night. Mahashivratri comes once a year, but Shiva's night comes every month!
Next date
Times are for Mumbai. The app gives times for your city.
Quick facts
- Also known asMasik Shivratri, Shivaratri
- WhereAll of India, every month
- Puja forShiva, as the linga
- In one lineThe night before the new moon is Shiva's: a fast, a vigil and the linga worshipped.
Masik Shivaratri, in a little more detail
- 01
About the festival
Every month has a Shivaratri: Krishna Chaturdashi, the day before the new moon. Of the year's twelve, the greatest is Mahashivratri in Magha.
The monthly vrat follows the same lines: a fast, a night vigil and the linga worshipped. The only difference is that this night comes round every month.
The moon has been thinning every night, and tonight it's almost gone. On a dark night like this you remember Shiva: however dark it gets, stay awake.
- 02
The hunter and the bel tree
The Shiva Purana tells of a hunter named Gurudruha. On a Shivaratri night he went hunting in the forest, and climbed a bel tree to stay safe from wild animals.
To keep awake he kept plucking bel leaves and dropping them. He didn't know there was a linga below. In the night a doe came to drink; she asked to see her fawns first and come back, and he let her go. When she came back with her family, he spared them all.
By morning thousands of leaves lay on the linga. That unknowing worship changed his heart, and Shiva appeared. The story belongs to the great Shivaratri, but its lesson holds for every one: stay awake, and don't let go of kindness.
- 03
In Maharashtra and beyond
A fast through the day, and the linga worshipped at night with bel leaves, milk and water.
Some keep a vigil through the night: bhajans and Shiva's name, again and again.
For those who keep Shivaratri every month, Mahashivratri is the year's biggest night. The other months are quieter, kept at home.
How to do the puja
In short: A fast by day, Shiva at night, and the fast broken next morning after a bath.
- 1Fast through the day. Many avoid grains and salt, or have only fruit and milk.
- 2In the evening, bathe and set up the linga or Shiva's picture.
- 3Do the abhishek with water and milk; some add curd, honey and ghee.
- 4Offer bel leaves, flowers and incense, and light a lamp.
- 5Chant Shiva's name, and stay awake into the night as long as you can.
- 6Do the aarti.
- 7Break the fast the next morning, after a bath.
What you needTick as you go
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Frequently asked questions
How is it different from Mahashivratri?
The vrat is the same. Mahashivratri comes once a year, it's the biggest, and it often has four pujas through the night, one for each prahar.
What can I eat while fasting?
Many have fruit and milk, skip grains and pulses, and use rock salt if they need salt. Some don't even take water.
Do I have to stay up all night?
No. Stay awake as long as you can, with bhajans or Shiva's name.
Should I fast if I'm unwell, pregnant or elderly?
Health comes first. Keep a light fast with fruit and milk, and do the puja without the vigil. If you're unsure, ask your doctor.
Dates in 2026
11 times this year, timed for Mumbai.
Dates by city in 2026
In these cities the dates below differ from Mumbai; the rest are the same.
Dates in 2027
12 times in 2027, timed for Mumbai.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.