Maha Shivaratri
महाशिवरात्री
The 'Great Night of Shiva' - celebrated on the 14th night of the dark fortnight of Falgun. The most important festival at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India.
When
February–March
Gregorian (approximate — lunar dates shift yearly)
Nepali month
Falgun
Bikram Sambat calendar
Duration
1 day (but pilgrims arrive over several days)
Tourist appeal
High
Hindu · Nationwide
Maha Shivaratri sees hundreds of thousands of Shaivite pilgrims converge on Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River. Sadhus (Hindu holy men) from across the subcontinent arrive weeks before, camping in the temple precincts and performing rituals. Devotees observe a day-long fast, bathe in the Bagmati, and worship the Shivalinga with bilva leaves, milk and water throughout the night.
Traditions & rituals
All-night vigil (jaagaran) at Pashupatinath and Shiva temples nationwide
Sadhus arrive from across India and Nepal, many consuming cannabis ritually
Bathing in the Bagmati River (sacred for Shiva devotees)
Offering of bel/bilva leaves, milk, ghee, honey, yoghurt on Shivalinga
Fair and night market along Bagmati ghats
What people eat during Maha Shivaratri
When does Maha Shivaratri fall this year?
Maha Shivaratri is observed in the Nepali month of Falgun, which corresponds to roughly February–March in the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so the precise day moves each year. Use our converter to map any Bikram Sambat date to the Gregorian calendar.
Nepali date converter (BS ⇄ AD) →Maha Shivaratri, answered
Common questions about the date, duration and meaning of Maha Shivaratri.
When is Maha Shivaratri celebrated?+
Maha Shivaratri falls in February–March — the Nepali month of Falgun in the Bikram Sambat calendar. Because most Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian dates shift slightly each year.
How long does Maha Shivaratri last?+
Maha Shivaratri lasts 1 day (but pilgrims arrive over several days).
What is the significance of Maha Shivaratri?+
The 'Great Night of Shiva' - celebrated on the 14th night of the dark fortnight of Falgun. The most important festival at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India.
Who celebrates Maha Shivaratri and where?+
Maha Shivaratri is primarily a Hindu festival, celebrated across Nepal.
What food is eaten during Maha Shivaratri?+
Traditional Maha Shivaratri foods include Fasting (Shivaratri vrat) - fruit and dairy only.
Other festivals of Nepal
Sources & data note
Festival dates follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar and shift each Gregorian year; the approximate Gregorian months reflect the typical recent range. Cultural details on Maha Shivaratri are sourced from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.