{"id":2771,"date":"2026-02-13T08:03:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T02:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/?p=2771"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:12:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:42:10","slug":"maha-shivratri-2026-date-puja-muhurat-vidhi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/maha-shivratri-2026-date-puja-muhurat-vidhi\/","title":{"rendered":"Maha Shivaratri 2026 (15 Feb): Nishita Kaal Timing, Puja Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"Event\",\n  \"name\": \"Maha Shivaratri 2026\",\n  \"startDate\": \"2026-02-15T17:04:00+05:30\",\n  \"endDate\": \"2026-02-16T17:34:00+05:30\",\n  \"eventStatus\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/EventScheduled\",\n  \"eventAttendanceMode\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/MixedEventAttendanceMode\",\n  \"description\": \"Maha Shivaratri 2026 Date, Nishita Kaal Puja Muhurat, and Rudrabhishek Booking Details by SmartPuja.\",\n  \"image\": [\n    \"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026-1024x577.png\"\n  ],\n  \"location\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Place\",\n    \"name\": \"SmartPuja (Online & In-Person)\",\n    \"address\": {\n      \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",\n      \"addressCountry\": \"IN\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"organizer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"SmartPuja\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\"\n  },\n  \"performer\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"Vedic Pandits of SmartPuja\"\n  },\n  \"offers\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/puja-services\/maha-shivaratri-puja\",\n    \"price\": \"0\",\n    \"priceCurrency\": \"INR\",\n    \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n    \"validFrom\": \"2026-02-01T00:00:00+05:30\"\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is Shivaratri on 15 or 16 February 2026?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Maha Shivaratri is observed on February 15, 2026 (Sunday). The Puja and fasting continue through the night into the morning of February 16.\" }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can unmarried girls fast on Shivaratri?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes, unmarried girls observe the Maha Shivaratri fast to seek a husband with qualities like Lord Shiva. It is believed to remove obstacles in marriage.\" }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What to eat during Shivaratri fast?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Devotees observe a 'Phalahar' fast. You can eat fruits, milk, sabudana (sago), and nuts. Avoid grains (rice, wheat) and common salt (use rock salt\/Sendha Namak instead).\" }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What happens if we miss Nishita Kaal?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"If you miss the Nishita Kaal (Midnight) Muhurat, you can perform the Puja during any of the 4 Prahars of the night or early morning on the next day (Parana time).\" }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is Shivaratri once or twice a year?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Shivaratri occurs every month (Masik Shivaratri). However, 'Maha Shivaratri' occurs only once a year in the month of Magha\/Phalguna (February or March).\" }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can we perform Rudrabhishek at home?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes, Rudrabhishek is the most powerful puja for Shivaratri. Our Vedic Pandits bring all necessary samagri and perform the authentic Abhishekam at your home.\" }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the best time for Shivaratri Puja 2026?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": { \"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The Nishita Kaal (midnight) is the most auspicious time. In 2026, this falls between 12:09 AM to 01:01 AM on Feb 16.\" }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<article style=\"font-family: 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; color: #333; max-width: 850px; margin: 0 auto;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-28582\" style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 12px; margin-bottom: 25px; box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026-1024x577.png\" alt=\"Maha Shivaratri 2026 Date and Significance\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026-150x85.png 150w, https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026-1536x865.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026.png 1640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #ff6900; font-size: 2.5rem; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center; line-height: 1.2;\">Maha Shivaratri 2026 Date, Puja Muhurat &amp; Vidhi<\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 0.9rem; color: #666; margin-top: 0;\"><em>Last Updated: February 2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.1rem;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maha_Shivaratri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maha Shivaratri<\/a> 2026<\/strong> will be observed on <strong>Sunday, 15 February 2026<\/strong>. The most auspicious time for Puja, known as <em>Nishita Kaal<\/em>, falls between <strong>12:09 AM and 01:01 AM<\/strong> on 16 February. Below you will find the complete 4 Prahar timings, fasting rules, city-wise muhurat, and step-by-step puja vidhi.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #e3f2fd; border: 2px solid #2196f3; border-radius: 12px; padding: 25px; margin: 30px 0;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #0d47a1; font-size: 1.2rem;\">\u26a1 Maha Shivaratri 2026 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; color: #333;\">\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"><strong>Date:<\/strong> 15 February 2026 (Sunday)<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"><strong>Nishita Kaal (Best Muhurat):<\/strong> 12:09 AM \u2013 01:01 AM (16 Feb)<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"><strong>Chaturdashi Tithi Begins:<\/strong> 06:11 PM (15 Feb)<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"><strong>Parana (Fast Breaking):<\/strong> 06:57 AM onwards (16 Feb)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Best Ritual:<\/strong> Rudrabhishek with Milk &amp; Gangajal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; padding: 20px; border-radius: 10px; border-left: 5px solid #ff6900; margin-bottom: 40px;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top: 0; font-size: 1.2rem; color: #333;\">\ud83d\udccc <strong>Quick Navigation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0; padding-left: 20px; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 15px;\">\n<li><a style=\"color: #ff6900; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#date\">\ud83d\udcc5 Date &amp; Muhurat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"color: #ff6900; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#prahar\">\ud83d\udd70\ufe0f 4 Prahar Timings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"color: #ff6900; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#booking\">\ud83d\udd25 Book Puja<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"color: #ff6900; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"#faq\">\u2753 FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Maha Shivaratri is the &#8220;Great Night of Shiva,&#8221; a celestial event observed in honor of Lord Shiva. Unlike other festivals of celebration, this is a night of vigil, fasting, and deep meditation to overcome darkness and ignorance.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"date\" style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #ff6900; border-bottom: 2px solid #ffe0b2; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 40px;\">\ud83d\udcc5 Maha Shivaratri 2026 Date &amp; Muhurat<\/h2>\n<p>In 2026, the Chaturdashi Tithi begins on the evening of Feb 15th. Below are the standard timings for India (IST).<\/p>\n<div style=\"overflow-x: auto; margin-bottom: 30px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\n<table  class=\" table table-hover\" style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background: #ff6900; color: white; padding: 15px; text-align: left;\">Event<\/th>\n<th style=\"background: #ff6900; color: white; padding: 15px; text-align: left;\">Date &amp; Time (IST)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>Shivaratri Date<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>February 15, 2026 (Sunday)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background: #fff8e1;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>Nishita Kaal (Main Puja)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>12:09 AM to 01:01 AM (Feb 16)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>Parana (Fast Break)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\">06:57 AM to 03:24 PM (Feb 16)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"prahar\" style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #d84315;\">\ud83d\udd70\ufe0f 4 Prahar Puja Timings (Night Vigil)<\/h3>\n<p>For devotees performing the all-night vigil (Jagaran), the night is divided into four Prahars. Performing Abhishekam during these times is highly auspicious.<\/p>\n<div style=\"overflow-x: auto; margin-bottom: 30px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\n<table  class=\" table table-hover\" style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background: #d84315; color: white; padding: 15px; text-align: left;\">Prahar<\/th>\n<th style=\"background: #d84315; color: white; padding: 15px; text-align: left;\">Time Interval<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>First Prahar<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\">06:11 PM to 09:23 PM (Feb 15)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; background: #fafafa;\"><strong>Second Prahar<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; background: #fafafa;\">09:23 PM to 12:35 AM (Feb 16)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>Third Prahar<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\">12:35 AM to 03:47 AM (Feb 16)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; background: #fafafa;\"><strong>Fourth Prahar<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; background: #fafafa;\">03:47 AM to 06:59 AM (Feb 16)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #d84315;\">\ud83d\udccd City-Wise Nishita Kaal Muhurat<\/h3>\n<div style=\"overflow-x: auto; margin-bottom: 40px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\">\n<table  class=\" table table-hover\" style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background: #4caf50; color: white; padding: 15px; text-align: left;\">City<\/th>\n<th style=\"background: #4caf50; color: white; padding: 15px; text-align: left;\">Nishita Kaal Time<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>New Delhi<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\">12:09 AM &#8211; 01:01 AM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>Mumbai<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\">12:28 AM &#8211; 01:19 AM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>Bangalore<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\">12:15 AM &#8211; 01:06 AM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\"><strong>Kolkata<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;\">11:25 PM &#8211; 12:16 AM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"booking\" style=\"background: #fff3e0; padding: 40px 20px; border-radius: 15px; text-align: center; margin: 40px 0; border: 2px solid #ffcc80;\">\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 0; border: none; font-size: 2.2rem; color: #ff6600; font-family: 'Georgia', serif;\">Select Your Shivratri Puja<\/h2>\n<p>Perform these authentic Vedic rituals at home to remove negativity and invoke Shiva&#8217;s grace.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 20px; justify-content: center; margin: 30px 0;\">\n<div style=\"flex: 1 1 300px; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ffe0b2; border-radius: 15px; padding: 25px; box-shadow: 0 5px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.05); text-align: center;\">\n<div style=\"font-size: 3rem;\">\ud83d\udd31<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"margin: 10px 0; color: #d84315;\">Rudrabhishek Puja<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\">The most powerful puja. Involves bathing the Linga with Panchamrit and 108 chants.<\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #ff6900; color: #ffffff; padding: 12px 25px; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/puja-services\/rudrabhishek-puja\">Book Rudrabhishek \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex: 1 1 300px; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ffe0b2; border-radius: 15px; padding: 25px; box-shadow: 0 5px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.05); text-align: center;\">\n<div style=\"font-size: 3rem;\">\ud83d\udd25<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"margin: 10px 0; color: #d84315;\">Maha Mrityunjaya Havan<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\">The &#8220;Conqueror of Death&#8221; ritual. Best for health issues, longevity, and recovering from illness.<\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #ff6900; color: #ffffff; padding: 12px 25px; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/puja-services\/maha-mrityunjaya-homa-and-jaap\">Book Havan \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex: 1 1 300px; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ffe0b2; border-radius: 15px; padding: 25px; box-shadow: 0 5px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.05); text-align: center;\">\n<div style=\"font-size: 3rem;\">\ud83d\udd49\ufe0f<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"margin: 10px 0; color: #d84315;\">Rudra Homa<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.9rem;\">A powerful fire lab to destroy negative karma and bring overall prosperity and peace.<\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #ff6900; color: #ffffff; padding: 12px 25px; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/puja-services\/rudra-homa\">Book Rudra Homa \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"history\" style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #ff6900; border-bottom: 2px solid #ffe0b2; padding-bottom: 10px;\">\ud83d\udcdc Why We Celebrate: The 3 Great Legends<\/h2>\n<p>The significance of Shivaratri is rooted in Puranic history. Here are the three main reasons why this night is revered:<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border-left: 6px solid #ff6900; box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.08); padding: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px; border-radius: 0 10px 10px 0;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; font-size: 1.2rem; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px;\">1. The Celestial Wedding<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">This is the night Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. It represents the union of <em>Shiva<\/em> (Pure Consciousness) and <em>Shakti<\/em> (Cosmic Energy). Devotees celebrate this as a festival of union and balance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border-left: 6px solid #ff6900; box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.08); padding: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px; border-radius: 0 10px 10px 0;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; font-size: 1.2rem; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px;\">2. The Legend of Neelkanth<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">During <em>Samudra Manthan<\/em>, a deadly poison (Halahala) emerged. To save the universe, Shiva drank it but held it in his throat, turning it blue. We stay awake to thank him for protecting the cosmos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border-left: 6px solid #ff6900; box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.08); padding: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px; border-radius: 0 10px 10px 0;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; font-size: 1.2rem; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px;\">3. The Tandava Nritya<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">It is believed that on this night, Shiva performs the <em>Rudra Tandava<\/em>\u2014the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"symbolism\" style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #ff6900; border-bottom: 2px solid #ffe0b2; padding-bottom: 10px;\">\ud83d\udd49\ufe0f Deep Symbolism of Offerings<\/h2>\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(200px, 1fr)); gap: 20px; margin-top: 20px;\">\n<div style=\"background: #f9f9f9; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; border-left: 4px solid #4caf50;\">\n<p><strong>\ud83e\udd5b Milk (Purity)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.9rem; margin-top: 5px;\">Abhishekam with milk washes away bad karma.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #f9f9f9; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; border-left: 4px solid #fbc02d;\">\n<p><strong>\ud83c\udf6f Honey (Sweetness)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.9rem; margin-top: 5px;\">Removes bitterness and brings charm to speech.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #f9f9f9; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; border-left: 4px solid #2e7d32;\">\n<p><strong>\ud83c\udf3f Bel Patra (Surrender)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 0.9rem; margin-top: 5px;\">The 3 leaves represent the 3 eyes of Shiva.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"zodiac\" style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #ff6900; border-bottom: 2px solid #ffe0b2; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 40px;\">\u2728 2026 Zodiac Offerings (Rashi)<\/h2>\n<p>According to Vedic Astrology, offering specific items based on your Rashi brings special blessings:<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(150px, 1fr)); gap: 10px; margin: 30px 0;\">\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Aries<\/strong><br \/>\nRed Flowers<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Taurus<\/strong><br \/>\nCurd &amp; Milk<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Gemini<\/strong><br \/>\nBel Patra<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Cancer<\/strong><br \/>\nRaw Milk<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Leo<\/strong><br \/>\nJaggery Water<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Virgo<\/strong><br \/>\nDhatura<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Libra<\/strong><br \/>\nSugarcane Juice<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Scorpio<\/strong><br \/>\nHoney<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Sagittarius<\/strong><br \/>\nYellow Flowers<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Capricorn<\/strong><br \/>\nBlack Sesame<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Aquarius<\/strong><br \/>\nCoconut Water<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; padding: 10px; text-align: center;\"><strong>Pisces<\/strong><br \/>\nSaffron Milk<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"faq\" style=\"font-family: 'Georgia', serif; color: #ff6900; border-bottom: 2px solid #ffe0b2; padding-bottom: 10px;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; padding: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #eee; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 1.1rem;\">Is Shivaratri on 15 or 16 February 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">It is observed on the night of Feb 15th. The Nishita Kaal Puja happens past midnight, technically falling on the early morning of Feb 16th.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; padding: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #eee; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 1.1rem;\">Can unmarried girls fast on Shivaratri?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Yes, unmarried girls traditionally observe this fast to seek a husband with qualities like Lord Shiva (loyal, calm, and protective) and to remove obstacles in marriage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; padding: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #eee; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 1.1rem;\">What to eat during Shivaratri fast?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">You can consume &#8216;Phalahar&#8217; items: Fruits, Milk, Sabudana, Kuttu (Buckwheat) flour, and dry fruits. Strictly avoid rice, wheat, pulses, onions, garlic, and common salt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; padding: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #eee; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 1.1rem;\">Is Shivaratri once or twice a year?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Shivaratri happens every lunar month (12 times a year). However, <strong>Maha Shivaratri<\/strong> is the grandest one, occurring only once a year in Feb\/March.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #fafafa; padding: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #eee; border-radius: 8px;\">\n<p><strong style=\"color: #d84315; display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 1.1rem;\">Can we perform Rudrabhishek at home?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">Yes, absolutely. While it is beneficial to visit a temple, performing Rudrabhishek at home with a Vedic Pandit brings immense purity and peace to the household.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin-top: 50px; background: #fff3e0; padding: 30px; border-radius: 12px; border: 1px dashed #ffcc80;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top: 0; color: #ff6900; font-family: 'Georgia', serif;\">Experience the Divine at Home<\/h3>\n<p>Don&#8217;t just read about it. Experience the power of Vedic Mantras.<\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #ff6900; color: #ffffff; padding: 15px 40px; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.2rem; box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(255, 105, 0, 0.3);\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/puja-services\/maha-shivaratri-puja\">Book Pandit Ji Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maha Shivratri 2026 falls on February 16. This auspicious night celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Discover the 4 Pahar Puja timings, fasting rules, and how to perform Rudrabhishek.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28582,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5,191],"tags":[714,204,768,124,769,87],"class_list":["post-2771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-festivals","category-pujas-and-homas","tag-lord-shiva-puja","tag-maha-mrityunjaya-havan","tag-maha-shivratri-2026","tag-rudrabhishek","tag-shivratri-puja-muhurat","tag-smartpuja"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Maha-Shivratri-2026.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2771"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33127,"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2771\/revisions\/33127"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smartpuja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}