Mahashivratri 2024 Date: When is Maha Shivratri and Why It Is Celebrated Every Year?

Mahashivratri 2024 Date: Maha Shivratri is one of the most important and auspicious festivals for Hindus. The annual festival honours Lord Shiva and his sacred union with Goddess Parvati. Shiva and Shakti together represent love, power, and unity, the fusion takes place at night. The day is celebrated by millions of devotees with temple visits, processes, and other rituals and traditions all over India.

This article will give you a quick insight into the date, history, significance and celebration of Mahashivratri 2024

When is Mahashivratri in 2024?

Maha Shivratri is defined as Lord Shiva's great night. It is an important event for fasting, meditation on Shiva, self-study, social harmony, and an all-night vigil at Shiva temples. According to the Hindu calendar, Maha Shivratri is observed annually on the fourteenth day of the dark (waning) half of the lunar month of Phalguna or Magha. This year, the day falls on the Gregorian calendar of March 8, 2024, Friday.

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Why is Mahashivratri celebrated?

The origin of Maha Shivratri is found in several Puranic texts, including the Skanda, Linga, and Padma Puranic texts. Maha Shivratri is commemorated as the wedding anniversary of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Whereas, the legend of Shaivism states that Shiva performs the heavenly dance of creation, preservation, and destruction on this night.

According to the Isha SadhGuru Organisation, “Mahashivratri is very significant for people who are on the spiritual path. It is also very significant for people who are in family situations, and also for the ambitious in the world. People who live in family situations observe Mahashivratri as Shiva’s wedding anniversary. Those with worldly ambitions see that day as the day Shiva conquered all his enemies.

But, for the ascetics, it is the day he became one with Mount Kailash. He became like a mountain—still. In the yogic tradition, Shiva is not worshipped as a God, but considered as the Adi Guru, the first Guru from whom the science of Yoga originated. After many millennia in meditation, one day he became still. That day is Mahashivratri. All movement in him stopped and he became utterly still, so ascetics see Mahashivratri as the night of stillness.” 

Shiva is also said to have ingested the halahala (poison) that evolved during the Samudra Manthana and held it around his neck to protect the gods and humanity on this specific day. Since then, celebrations of Maha Shivratri have begun to honour the one who saved life.

How Is Mahashivaratri Celebrated Every Year?

Mahashivratri, the day to honour and celebrate Lord Shiva originated in the 5th century. It is a notable festival in Hinduism, marking the importance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and the world. It is celebrated by worshipping Shiva, chanting prayers, fasting, and meditation. The day focuses on virtues such as honesty, non-violence, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva. Also, the celebration by ardent devotees of Shiva includes maintaining a Jagaran, an all-night vigil and a visit to Jyotirlingams.

Annual dance festivals are organised on the occasion of the Maha Shivratri at prominent Hindu temples like Konark, Khajuraho, Pattadakal, Modhera, and Chidambaram. This event is called Natyanjali, which means "worship through dance."

In conclusion, Mahashivatri is an opportunity to acknowledge the vast emptiness and reconnect with the creator spiritually. It is a night of wakefulness and awakenings, a night to receive incredible vision, compassion and vision. May the essence of Maha Shivratri continue to inspire and uplift hearts, fostering a sense of unity, peace, and transcendence in the hearts of all who celebrate this sacred occasion.

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