Maha Shivaratri

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Maha Shivaratri, "the great night of Shiva", is one of the holiest nights of the Hindu year. Devotees fast, keep an all-night vigil (jagarana) with prayers and hymns, and worship the lingam with offerings of water, milk, yogurt, honey and bilva leaves. The almanac marks the midnight hour (nishita) as the time Shiva appeared on earth in the form of the lingam.