Maha Shivaratri in Agra

Date and timing in this city

In Agra, Maha Shivaratri falls on Sunday 15 February 2026. The following year it falls on Saturday 6 March 2027. These dates are computed for Agra's own sunrise, which is why the city's observance is listed separately rather than borrowed from a national calendar.

The tithi is Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi — the fourteenth day of the waning fortnight of Phalguna. The time zone observed is Asia/Kolkata. The deity is Shiva, and the observance is a night vigil with Shiva abhishek.

Because the tithi is reckoned from local sunrise, the day you mark in Agra is the day the Chaturdashi is current at Agra's sunrise. Readers in other cities should check their own local computation rather than assume the same date.

Why the date can differ from India

A single "India date" is a convenience, not a rule. Tithi boundaries fall at different clock times across the country, and different panchangas may follow different conventions — amanta or purnimanta reckoning of the lunar month, and Smarta or Vaishnava methods of assigning the vrata. Where traditions differ, both readings are traditionally respected; the brief here does not pick one over the other.

This is why a city page exists at all. Agra's date is given for Agra. If you live elsewhere, or follow a specific sampradaya, confirm with your own panchangam or a qualified jyotishi before fixing your fast and vigil.

Where and how the community celebrates

Maha Shivaratri is observed pan-India, and Agra is no exception. The shape of the day is familiar across regions:

• Night vigil — remaining awake through the night, often with chanting, bhajan or reading of Shiva-related texts.
• Shiva abhishek — ritual bathing of the Shiva linga, traditionally with water, milk and other offerings according to local custom.
• Fasting — many devotees fast through the day, with the strictness and the foods permitted varying by family and region.
• Temple visits — crowds gather at local Shiva temples, though the specific venues and organisers are not named here.

Customs differ between North and South, and between Smarta and Vaishnava households. The essentials — the tithi, the vigil, the abhishek — hold across them.

Practical tips

• Note the date for your city, not for the country. For Agra: 15 February 2026 and 6 March 2027.
• Check your local sunrise and the Chaturdashi timings with your own panchangam if you are observing a strict fast.
• Plan the night vigil in advance — rest beforehand, arrange seating, and keep the abhishek materials ready.
• If you follow a particular sampradaya, follow its method rather than a general one.
• For personal charts and individual guidance, consult a qualified jyotishi.