Maha Shivratri 2025 fasting rules: Dos and don’ts of Shivratri vrat, what to eat and avoid, puja vidhi and rituals
Maha Shivratri 2025 fasting rules: Hindus celebrate the holy festival of Mahashivratri every year with enthusiasm. This year, it falls on February 26, and it will be observed all over the country with unique traditions and great dedication. Annually, Maha Shivratri falls on the 14th day of the dark (waning) half of the lunar month of Phalguna or Magha, a day before the new moon.
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On this day, devotees worship Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati, seek their blessings, and observe a day-long nirjala vrat (fasting without water). If you and your loved ones are observing the arduous fast, you must know the rules and the dos and don’ts.
1. Devotees should consume a single meal to prepare their body and mind for worshipping Shiva on Trayodashi – a day before Maha Shivratri.
2. The night of Shivratri is of great significance, and before the Shiv Puja, devotees must take a bath again.
3. Shivratri puja can be performed one time or four times during the night.
4. On the day of the fast, devotees must wake up early, take a purifying bath, and wear new clothes.
5. During the fat, stick to eating satvik and vrat-friendly food items like fruits, milk, milk products, and root vegetables.
6. Bathe the Shivlinga with water, milk, saffron, honey and Ganga water before worshipping Shiva. Light diya and incense.
1. During the fast, avoid eating prohibited foods like grains and legumes.
2. While coconuts can be offered to Lord Shiva, don’t offer coconut water.
3. It is advised not to consume anything that you have offered to Lord Shiva as it’s believed to bring bad luck.
4. While fasting, do not go overboard on tea and coffee, as it can cause dehydration.
5. The devotees should never use a kumkum tilak during this puja, and sandalwood paste must be preferred.
6. Do not offer flowers like kevada and champa, as they are cursed by Lord Shiva.
During Mahashivratri puja, offer Lord Shiva bel patra, dhatura fruit, raw rice, milk, curd, sandalwood, ghee and water. These items are offered to Lord Shiva to be blessed with success, prosperity, peace and happiness. Devotees can also offer sweets made with milk and its products, like barfi, peda, and kheer.
During Mahashivratri puja, decorate the Shivalinga with flowers and bael leaves, and offer bhaang, fruits, honey, ghee, sweets and milk to Lord Shiva. Meanwhile, on the evening of Mahashivratri, people gather at temples and worship the Shiva Linga. They also light lamps, spend the entire night at the temple, and participate in spectacular processions of Lord Shiva and Parvati – which are taken out on a palanquin at night.
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Maha Shivratri 2025 fasting rules: Mahashivratri is on February 26. Find out the fasting rules, dos and don’ts, what to eat and avoid, and more.
Maha Shivratri 2025: Know the fasting rules
Maha Shivratri 2025: Puja vidhi and rituals
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Thousands of devotees offer prayer at Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple on Maha Shivratri
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Pashupatinath Temple
Credit: iStock Photo
Kathmandu: Thousands of devotees from across Nepal and neighbouring India thronged the revered Pashupatinath Temple since early morning to offer prayers on Maha Shivratri on Wednesday.
People queued up at the Pashupatinath Temple at the bank of Bagmati River in Kathmandu since late Tuesday to have darshan of the Shiva Linga.
Authorities have made special arrangements to accommodate the influx of devotees at Pashupatinath, said Milan Kumar Thapa, the member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT).
The local administration has banned the sale and consumption of marijuana, hemp, alcohol, meat and fish during the festival. Those violating this rule face legal action.
The temple opened at 2.15 am and devotees were allowed to enter the shrine from all four gates to have darshan of the Shiva Linga.
More than one million devotees from Nepal and India are estimated to arrive at the Pashupatinath Temple on Wednesday.
The authorities have deployed 4,000 security personnel and 10,000 volunteers for the safety of the devotees and the smooth conduction of prayer at the temple.
The main shrine and the temple premises have been eloquently decorated with flowers, colourful lights, paper flags and banners, creating a stunning night-time ambience.
To streamline temple visits, officials have arranged eight queues inside and four outside the temple.
Authorities have designated different routes to manage the crowd effectively.
Devotees can enter through various points such as Mitrapark, Gaushala, and Pingalasthan, with systematic queues ensuring smooth movement.
Additionally, planners have prepared a separate lane via Tilganga Ram Temple if needed. The Maha Shivaratri Main Celebration Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Minister for Tourism and Culture Badri Prasad Pandey to offer free meals, drinking water, and medicines to the devotees on the occasion in coordination with different organisations. About one lakh 50 thousand devotees have already offered prayers till 9.30 am on Wednesday, said Rewati Raman Adhikari, a senior official at the Pashupati Development Trust.
She said the number will cross one million by Thursday morning.
Around 3,500 Sadhus, including about 700 Naga Babas, have arrived at the temple from India, Adhikari said.
The official said the Naga Sadhus will be offered free meals, water, sanitation facilities, accommodation, and medicines.
Adhikari said the Sadhus would be given cash incentives depending upon their ranks, a maximum of NRs 15,000, as Dakshina before they leave on Thursday. Maha Shivaratri is observed through fasting, offering prayers, performing rituals, visiting Shiva temples, and commemorating the night dedicated to Maheshwar or Mahadev, the Lord of the Lords. Maha Shivaratri also symbolises illuminating the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge thereby removing ignorance and suffering.
It is believed that offering prayers at Shiva Linga, which symbolises the Supreme Being, brings happiness, joy, overall well-being, and finally salvation to the devotee.
People consider Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi as per the Hindu calendar, an auspicious day when Lord Shiva grants mercy to the poor and distressed, as Maha Shivratri.
During the Maha Shivaratri, the devotees purify themselves, visit Shiva temples, and offer Lord Shiva milk, sweets, Dhatura flowers, and Bel leaves.
They believe that observing a fast and staying awake all night in devotion grants spiritual fulfilment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Many people light bonfires and sing sacred chants and hymns while preparing offerings.
Traditional music and dance performances are organised at the Gaurighat, Mrigasthali and Kirateshwar ashrams around the temple on the occasion.
Pashupatinath attracts devotees from Nepal, India, and other South Asian countries on this grand occasion.
Lord Shiva is worshipped not only by the Hindus but also by Buddhists and Kiratis. Some worship Lord Shiva in the form of Bhairava.
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