Festival companion · Saturday 6 March 2027

Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Shiva. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Maha Shivaratri

A hunter once climbed a bilva tree to wait for deer through the night. He had caught nothing all day and had not eaten. Afraid of falling asleep, he plucked the leaves one by one and dropped them to the ground.

He did not know that a Shiva linga stood below the tree, or that the dew from his water pot fell on it too. Without meaning to, he had fasted, stayed awake and offered bilva and water to Shiva all night.

At dawn Shiva appeared and blessed him. The story reminds us that what matters is a sincere heart, and that is why on Shivaratri we fast, stay awake and offer bilva leaves and water.

How families celebrate

Maha Shivaratri is the night Shiva is worshipped with water, milk and bilva leaves. Many people fast during the day and stay awake through the night with chanting, stories and four rounds of puja, one in each quarter of the night.

Fasting, abhisheka on a Shiva linga with water and milk, bilva leaves, "Om Namah Shivaya" through the night, and a temple visit.

At home

The Puja

A home puja anyone can follow, step by step, with the words to say.

Before you begin

  1. Prepare

    Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. Set out a lamp, incense, flowers, kumkum, turmeric, rice, water in a small vessel with a spoon, a bell and the naivedya (food offering).

  2. Light the lamp

    Light the lamp with ghee or oil and fold your hands.

    SayShubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana sampadah, shatru buddhi vinashaya deepa jyotir namostute

  3. Pray to Ganesha first

    Every puja begins with Ganesha, so the rest goes without obstacles. Offer a flower or a little rice.

    SayVakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha, nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva karyeshu sarvada

  4. Achamana and sankalpa

    Sip a spoon of water three times. Then hold a little water, rice and a flower and say, in your own language, who you are, where you are, and why you are doing this puja today. Let it fall in a plate.

    SayOm Keshavaya namah · Om Narayanaya namah · Om Madhavaya namah

Step by step

  1. Sankalpa and fast

    In the morning, take a bath and resolve to fast (fruit, milk or one simple meal) and to keep the night.

  2. Abhisheka

    Bathe a small Shiva linga in order with water, milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar water, then water again, chanting all the while.

    SayOm Namah Shivaya

  3. Bilva offering

    Offer bilva leaves (three joined leaves), white flowers and vibhuti.

    SayTridalam trigunakaram trinetram cha triyayudham, trijanma papa samharam eka bilvam Shivarpanam

  4. Four night pujas

    Repeat a short abhisheka and aarti in each of the four quarters of the night (around 7 pm, 10 pm, 1 am and 4 am). Families with children can do one or two.

    SayOm tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushti vardhanam, urvarukam iva bandhanan mrityor mukshiya mamritat

  5. Break the fast

    The next morning, after a bath and puja, break the fast with prasada.

Closing

  1. Naivedya

    Place the food before the deity, sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with your hands open.

    SayOm pranaya svaha · Om apanaya svaha · Om vyanaya svaha · Om udanaya svaha · Om samanaya svaha

  2. Aarti

    Wave the camphor or ghee lamp clockwise in front of the deity, ringing the bell, while the family sings an aarti or bhajan.

  3. Pradakshina and namaskara

    Turn around once clockwise where you stand, then bow or prostrate. Ask forgiveness for anything done wrongly.

    SayYani kani cha papani janmantara kritani cha, tani tani vinashyanti pradakshina pade pade

  4. Share the prasada

    Share the naivedya with everyone at home and with neighbours.

The 16 offerings

Most home pujas follow the sixteen offerings, the shodashopachara. When you have little time, offer flowers, a lamp and food with love; that is enough.

  1. DhyanaThink of the deity
  2. AvahanaInvite the deity
  3. AsanaOffer a seat (a flower or rice)
  4. PadyaWater to wash the feet
  5. ArghyaWater to wash the hands
  6. AchamaniyaWater to sip
  7. SnanaA bath (sprinkle water, or abhisheka)
  8. VastraClothes (a cloth or cotton thread)
  9. Yajnopavita / AbharanaSacred thread or ornaments
  10. GandhaSandal paste, turmeric and kumkum
  11. PushpaFlowers and leaves
  12. DhupaIncense
  13. DeepaA lamp
  14. NaivedyaFood
  15. TambulaBetel leaf and nut, or fruit
  16. Nirajana and namaskaraAarti, flowers and bowing

Print

A printable version of this puja is on its way. Until then, use the Print button.

This is a simple home puja. Every family and region has its own customs, so follow your elders or priest where they differ.

Cook together

Sweet Potato Fasting Chaat

More recipes →
North India · Maha Shivaratri, fasts

Sweet Potato Fasting Chaat

Shakarkandi chaat in Hindi, genasu in Kannada, sakkaravalli kizhangu in Tamil

  • 25 min
  • Serves 2
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 tsp ghee
  • ½ tsp roasted cumin powder
  • Rock salt (sendha namak) and black pepper
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Pomegranate seeds and coriander leaves

Method

  1. Boil or bake the sweet potatoes until soft, then peel and cube.
  2. Toss them in hot ghee for 2 minutes until lightly crisp.
  3. Add cumin, rock salt, pepper and lemon.
  4. Top with pomegranate and coriander.

Sweet potatoes are sold in every supermarket abroad, so this is the easiest fasting dish to make anywhere.

For children

Make a bilva-leaf garland in paper

You need

  • Green paper
  • Scissors
  • String
  • A glue stick

Steps

  1. Bilva leaves grow in threes. Cut many sets of three leaf shapes joined at the stalk.
  2. Fold each set in half along the middle leaf.
  3. Glue the folds over a long string, one after another.
  4. Hang it near the puja place.

Get ready

Shopping List

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Shopping list

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