Maha Shivaratri in Ayodhya

Maha Shivaratri in Ayodhya

Maha Shivaratri is observed on Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi and is dedicated to Shiva. In Ayodhya (अयोध्या), India, the festival falls on Sunday 15 February 2026 and on Saturday 6 March 2027. Ayodhya follows the Asia/Kolkata time zone, and the observance is pan-India in scope.

Date and timing in this city

The tithi for Maha Shivaratri is Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi. The dates above are computed for Ayodhya's own sunrise, which is why they are stated specifically for the city rather than as a single all-India figure. Readers in Ayodhya can take these as the local dates for the vrat and the night vigil.

Why the date can differ from India

Festival dates in the Hindu calendar are tied to the tithi, and the tithi is reckoned from local sunrise and local sunset. Because sunrise varies from place to place, the same tithi can begin and end at different clock times across the country. That is why a pan-India listing and a city-specific calculation can occasionally point to different days. Where traditions differ — North and South, Smarta and Vaishnava, amanta and purnimanta reckonings — the observance is followed according to the family or regional custom. For personal charts and individual guidance, consult a qualified jyotishi.

Where and how the community celebrates

Maha Shivaratri in Ayodhya is kept as a night vigil with Shiva abhishek. Devotees stay awake through the night, and the abhishek — the ritual bathing of the Shiva lingam — is central to the observance. The festival is pan-India in reach, so the same broad pattern of vigil and abhishek appears in Ayodhya as elsewhere, shaped by local custom and family tradition. No particular venue, temple, event or organiser is named here; the celebration is described in general terms only.

Practical tips

• Note the local dates for Ayodhya: Sunday 15 February 2026 and Saturday 6 March 2027.
• The tithi is Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi, computed for Ayodhya's own sunrise.
• Plan for a night vigil, with Shiva abhishek as the main observance.
• Follow your family or regional tradition where customs differ; the amanta and purnimanta reckonings, and Smarta and Vaishnava practice, are not uniform.
• For anything relating to your own chart, speak with a qualified jyotishi.