Maha Shivratri, the festival celebrated annually to honour god Shiva and goddess Parvati, will be observed from March 11 to March 12. It is celebrated in the month of ‘Phalguna’, as per the Hindu calendar. According to the most popular legend, Maha Shivratri is the night when Shiva and Parvati got married.
Also read: Maha Shivratri 2021: All you need to know
To worship Shiva, devotees observe a one-day fast, meditation and all-night vigil and prayers. Here are a couple of things that you should keep in mind while performing the grand puja and Rudrabhishek.
1. Wake up before sunrise, take a bath and wear clean clothes.
2. Avoid black-coloured clothes, wear auspicious green.
3. The Nishita Kaal will start from 12.06 am to 12.55 am on March 12. Make sure to offer your prayers during this period.
4. Chant the sacred mantra of Shiva, ‘Om Namah Shivaay’, and recite Shiv Chalisa.
5. Perform Rudrabhishek by offering raw milk to the Shiva Linga either at home or at a Shiva temple.
6. If you are observing a fast, consume fruits, milk and recipes with fast-compliant ingredients.
7. Listen to Kathas of Shiva, sing Bhajans and meditate.
8. Do not offer tobacco, alcohol or coconut water to the Shiva Linga.
9. Do not offer vermillion (sindoor/kumkum) to the Shiv Linga.
10. Don’t do a full parikrama of the Shiva Linga. Go around in a semi-circle and come back where you started from.
