Māsik Śivarātri is the Kṛṣṇa Caturdaśī night of every lunar month, kept for Lord Śiva. It carries the same tithi as Mahā Śivarātri, which comes once a year in Phālguna, but returns each month as a quieter night of worship. Homes that keep it light a lamp, offer bilva and recite a stotra they know, often following the Mahā Śivarātri habits in a shorter form. No single kathā is required every month, because the long telling belongs to the annual night. How the day is fixed: The day is the civil day on which Kṛṣṇa Caturdaśī prevails through the night at your place. Because the night is judged by local time, the date can differ between cities. Keep in mind: Phālguna's Kṛṣṇa Caturdaśī is both a monthly Śivarātri and Mahā Śivarātri, which has its own page for the annual all-night rites. If your family pañcāṅga follows a different night rule, confirm the tithi there. This year: The 2026 date shown here is worked out from sunrise at the place you chose, so in another city the same day can fall a day earlier or later. Night pūjā: Households light a lamp, offer bilva leaves or a simple naivedya, and recite a Śiva stotra they already know. Fast and vigil: Some take only fruit or milk until the night abhiṣeka, some simply visit a Śiva temple at dusk, and some stay awake for a short jāgaraṇa. Worth remembering: Pradoṣam is the dusk worship on Trayodaśī, the day before, and has its own page. Mahā Śivarātri is the great annual night, and neither is merged with this monthly observance. No house is bound to one North Indian pattern of fasting through the whole night. Families who watch Rāhu kālam, Yamagaṇḍam or Guḷikai avoid beginning the pūjā in those hours. Kulācāra and deśācāra shape how long the vigil lasts and what is offered, so follow the elders of your own house.
Comments
Share how your family observes this day, or ask a question. Please keep it kind and on topic.