Mahashivratri 2021: Date, Celebrations, History And Significance

Last Updated: 29-Apr-2024 Mahashivratri 2024: Festival Date, Significance, Celebration

Budget Hotels > Travel Blog > Holiday List 2024 > Mahashivratri 2023

Published Date: 03-Dec-2022

Mahashivratri is one of the biggest festivals in Shaivism, which is one of the two main cults within mainstream Hinduism. As is clear by its name, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the deity associated with death and destruction. A Shivratri falls every month on the 14th day of the Krishna Paksha (the 15-day period when the moon wanes). However, the Shivratri falling in the Hindu month of Magha is considered the most significant. In the Gregorian calendar, Mahashivratri falls in late-February or early-March; its 2024 date is March 8th.

Mahashivratri History and significance

Mahashivratri 2024

As is with every religious festival, several myths and legends are associated with Mahashivratri. As per one story, it was the night when Lord Shiva drank the poison produced during Samudra Manthan or churning of the ocean. Another legend states that on this night, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, the cosmic dance which leads to total destruction and creation. Yes another story says that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married on this night.

Mahashivratri Celebrations across India

Mahashivratri 2024

A distinction between Mahashivratri and other Hindu festivals is that while others are celebrated with fanfare, Mahashivratri is a rather solemn occasion in most parts of the country. Devotees fast during the day, perform yoga and pray to the deity. At most temples dedicated to him, people stay up all night chanting Mantras and Sanskrit shlokas in his honour.

However, there are places where the celebrations of Mahashivratri are accompanied by pomp and fervour. There is a huge fair organised in Mandi for 7 days that you can attend. During the event, idols of more than 200 regional deities are brought out of temples in palanquins and paraded.

Suggested Read: Diwali Puja 2024

Best Places to Observe the Celebrations of Mahashivratri

• Tiruvannamalai
• Varanasi
• Ujjain
• Mandi
• Haridwar
• Guwahati

Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type

Festivals in India	Day	Date	Holiday Type
New Year’s Day	Mon	01-Jan	Restricted Holiday
Lohri	Sat	13-Jan	Restricted Holiday
Makar Sankranti	Sun	14-Jan	Restricted Holiday
Pongal	Mon	15-Jan	Restricted Holiday
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti	Wed	17-Jan	Restricted Holiday
Republic Day	Fri	26-Jan	Gazetted Holiday
Losar	Sat	10-Feb	Restricted Holiday
Basant Panchmi	Wed	14-Feb	Restricted Holiday
Guru Ravidas Jayanti	Sat	24-Feb	Gazetted Holiday
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti	Wed	6-Mar	Restricted Holiday
Mahashivratri	Fri	8-Mar	Gazetted Holiday
Holi	Mon	25-March	Gazetted Holiday
Good Friday	Fri	29-Mar	Gazetted Holiday
Easter Day	Sun	31-Mar	Restricted Holiday
Gudi Padwa	Tue	9-Apr	Restricted Holiday
Eid-ul-Fitr	Wed	10-Apr	Gazetted Holiday
Vaisakhi (Vishu)	Sat	13-Apr	Restricted Holiday
Rama Navami	Wed	17-Apr	Gazetted Holiday
Mahavir Jayanti	Sun	21-Apr	Gazetted Holiday
Rabindra Jayanti	Wed	8-May	Restricted Holiday
Buddha Purnima (Vesak)	Thu	23-May	Gazetted Holiday
Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)	Mon	17-Jun	Restricted Holiday
Rath Yatra	Sun	7-Jul	Gazetted Holiday
Muharram (Ashura)	Wed	17-Jul	Gazetted Holiday
Independence Day	Thu	15-Aug	Gazetted Holiday
Parsi New Year’s Day (Nauraz)	Thu	15-Aug	Public Holiday
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi)	Mon	19-Aug	Restricted Holiday
Janmashtami	Mon	26-Aug	Restricted Holiday
Ganesh Chaturthi	Sat	7-Sep	Restricted Holiday
Onam	Sun	15-Sep	Restricted Holiday
Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad	Mon	16-Sep	Gazetted Holiday
Gandhi Jayanti	Wed	02-Oct	Gazetted Holiday
Dussehra	Sat	12-Oct	Gazetted Holiday
Valmiki Jayanti	Thu	17-Oct	Restricted Holiday
Karva Chauth	Sun	20-Oct	Gazetted Holiday
Dhanteras	Tue	29-Oct	Restricted Holiday
Kali Puja	Thu	31-Oct	Gazetted Holiday
Halloween Day	Thu	31-Oct	No Holiday
Diwali	Fri	1-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Lakshmi Puja	Fri	1-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Karnataka Rajyotsava	Fri	1-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Kerala Piravi	Fri	1-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Govardhan Puja	Sat	2-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Bhai Dooj	Sun	3-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Chhath Puja	Thu	7-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Guru Nanak Jayanti	Fri	15-Nov	Gazetted Holiday
Christmas	Wed	25-Dec	Public Holiday

Sargun Preet Kaur Sargun has an appetite for challenges and creative hurdles that can help her grow as she conquers them one by one. With an innate desire to travel the world, she weaves through life by visiting her dream destinations. When not in her creative zone, Sargun loves to smash in badminton and binge-watch her favourite shows.

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