Masik & Maha Shivaratri Dates 2026
Masik Shivaratri is the sacred monthly night dedicated to Lord Shiva. While the date is determined by the Chaturdashi Tithi, the most critical element for the Puja is the Nishita Kaal (Midnight Time).
Astrologer Santhosh Kumar's Insight
"Many devotees confuse Pradosha Kala with Nishita Kaal. Pradosham is for sunset worship (Nataraja), while Nishita Kaal is strictly for the Lingodbhava (emergence of the Linga). My calculator below determines the exact Midnight Window for Columbus based on your local sunset-sunrise interval, ensuring your Puja aligns with the cosmic time."
Calculate Nishita Kaal for Your City
Yearly Shivaratri Dates 2026 (Columbus)
January, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
Pausha
January 16, 2026
Friday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 12:13 AM to 01:10 AM
|
February, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Magha
February 15, 2026
Sunday
|
Maha Shivaratri
★ Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri falls on Sunday, which is very auspicious |
🌙 12:18 AM to 01:11 AM
Lingodbhava Kala:
12:36 AM - 12:54 AM |
March, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Phalguna
March 16, 2026
Monday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 01:15 AM to 02:03 AM
|
April, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Chaitra
April 15, 2026
Wednesday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 01:09 AM to 01:52 AM
|
May, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Vaisakha
May 14, 2026
Thursday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 01:08 AM to 01:47 AM
|
June, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
(Adhika) Jyeshtha
June 13, 2026
Saturday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 01:14 AM to 01:50 AM
|
July, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Jyeshtha
July 12, 2026
Sunday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 01:19 AM to 01:56 AM
|
August, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Ashadha
August 10, 2026
Monday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 01:17 AM to 01:58 AM
|
October, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Bhadrapada
October 8, 2026
Thursday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 12:54 AM to 01:45 AM
|
November, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Ashvina
November 7, 2026
Saturday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 11:48 PM to 12:43 AM
|
December, 2026
| Date | Shivaratri Type | Nishita Kala (Midnight) |
|---|---|---|
|
Kartika
December 6, 2026
Sunday
|
Masa Shivaratri |
🌙 11:54 PM to 12:52 AM
|
Why is Nishita Kaal Important?
According to the Ishana Samhita, Lord Shiva manifested as the fiery column of light (Jyotirlinga) precisely at midnight. Therefore, the Vrat is powerful only if the Puja is performed during this specific window.
Shivaratri Vrat Procedure (Vidhi)
To maximize the benefit of the fast, follow this schedule:
| Ritual Step | Timing & Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Sankalpa | Morning after bath. Take water in hand and pledge to observe the fast with a pure mind. |
| 2. Pradosha Puja | During Sunset (Twilight). Perform initial worship to Lord Shiva. |
| 3. Nishita Puja | Most Important. Perform Rudrabhishekam during the time shown in the table above. |
| 4. Parana | Break the fast the next morning after sunrise, before the Chaturdashi Tithi ends. |
Free Astrology
Have a Pressing Question? Get an Immediate Answer.
Using the ancient principles of Prashna Jyotish, find instant cosmic guidance for your most important questions about career, love, or life.
Get Your Answer Now
Hindu Jyotish App. Multilingual Android App. Available in 10 languages.Star Match or Astakoota Marriage Matching
Want to find a good partner? Not sure who is the right match? Try Vedic Astrology! Our Star Matching service helps you find the perfect partner. You don't need your birth details, just your Rashi and Nakshatra. Try our free Star Match service before you make this big decision!
We have this service in many languages:
English,
Hindi,
Telugu,
Tamil,
Malayalam,
Kannada,
Marathi,
Bengali,
Punjabi,
Gujarati,
French,
Russian,
Deutsch, and
Japanese
Click on the language you want to see the report in.
Marriage Matching with date of birth
If you're searching for your ideal life partner and struggling to decide who is truly compatible for a happy and harmonious life, let Vedic Astrology guide you. Before making one of life's biggest decisions, explore our free marriage matching service available at onlinejyotish.com to help you find the perfect match. We have developed free online marriage matching software in
Telugu,
English,
Hindi,
Kannada,
Marathi,
Bengali,
Gujarati,
Punjabi,
Tamil,
Malayalam,
Français,
Русский,
Deutsch, and
Japanese
. Click on the desired language to know who is your perfect life partner.
