Maha Shivratri
The great night of Lord Shiva: fasting, bel leaves and milk on the Shivling, night-long prayers, and long queues at Pune's Shiva temples and at Bhimashankar.
Quick facts
- Month:
- Magh, February or March
- Maha Shivratri 2027:
- Saturday 6 March 2027
- Offerings:
- Bel leaves, milk, water, white flowers
- Jyotirlinga near Pune:
- Bhimashankar, Ambegaon taluka
Maha Shivratri, the great night of Lord Shiva, comes on the fourteenth night of the dark half of the month of Magh, in February or March. Devotees remember it as the night of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati, and as the night Shiva performed his cosmic dance.
How it is celebrated
Many people keep a fast for the day and eat only fasting food such as sabudana khichdi, fruit and milk. At the temples, devotees pour water and milk on the Shivling and offer bel leaves, white flowers and dhatura, chanting "Om Namah Shivaya". Many temples stay open all night for bhajans, kirtans and the four prahar pujas, and devotees break the fast the next morning.
Shiva temples in Pune
- Omkareshwar temple, on the bank of the Mutha river in Shaniwar Peth, one of the best-known old temples of the city.
- Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Jangali Maharaj Road, Shivajinagar, a Shiva temple cut out of a single rock more than a thousand years ago.
- Nageshwar temple, Somwar Peth, one of the oldest temples in the old city.
- Small Shiva temples in almost every peth, village and housing society, which are decorated with flowers and lights for the night.
Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar, in the Sahyadri hills of Ambegaon taluka in Pune district, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. On Maha Shivratri lakhs of devotees go there for darshan, and extra ST buses run from Pune. Start early, expect long queues, and carry water and something warm for the hills at night.
Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a correction
More in Festivals of Pune
-
Shiv Jayanti
The birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, celebrated on 19 February with processions and programmes.
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti The birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14 April, marked in Pune with tributes at his statues, processions, music and lectures through the day and night.
-
Navratri and Dasara
Nine nights of the goddess, with the Chaturshrungi fair, garba and dandiya, ending in Dasara: apta leaves as gold, Ravan dahan and new beginnings.
-
Diwali
The festival of lights: lamps, kandils, rangoli, faral and shopping crowds on Laxmi Road.
-
Palkhi (Ashadhi Wari)
Every year the palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram pass through Pune with lakhs of Varkaris walking to Pandharpur.
-
Gudi Padwa
The Marathi New Year: a gudi at every door, neem and jaggery, shrikhand puri, and shobha yatras with dhol tasha across Pune.
Questions and answers
When is Maha Shivratri in 2027?
Maha Shivratri is on Saturday 6 March 2027. The main night puja runs past midnight into 7 March.
Which Shiva temples are famous in Pune?
Omkareshwar temple in Shaniwar Peth, Pataleshwar Cave Temple on Jangali Maharaj Road and Nageshwar temple in Somwar Peth. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is in Pune district.
Why are bel leaves offered to Lord Shiva?
The three-part bel leaf is believed to be dear to Lord Shiva, and offering it is part of every Shiva puja, most of all on Maha Shivratri.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. 2027 date checked against Drik Panchang and Dekho Panchang on 15 October 2026.