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Maha Shivaratri 2026 in India

Maha Shivratri is an annual festival honoring Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. People celebrate by fasting for a whole day and staying awake all night. They also chant hymns and sing devotional songs, called bhajans.

Is Maha Shivaratri a Public Holiday?

Maha Shivaratri is an optional holiday. Employment and holiday laws in India allow employees to choose a limited number of holidays from a list of optional holidays. Some employees may choose to take the day off on this day, however, most offices and businesses remain open.

The Hindu god Shiva is one of the three main gods in Hindu mythology.

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About Maha Shivaratri

Read more about Maha Shivaratri.

Maha Shivaratri Observances

Note: During a gazetted holiday, government offices and most businesses are closed so people have a day off work.

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday Type
2020FriFeb 21Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday
2021ThuMar 11Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday
2022TueMar 1Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday
2023SatFeb 18Maha ShivaratriRestricted Holiday
2024FriMar 8Maha ShivaratriRestricted Holiday
2025WedFeb 26Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday
2026SunFeb 15Maha ShivaratriRestricted Holiday
2027SatMar 6Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday
2028WedFeb 23Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday
2029SunFeb 11Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday
2030SatMar 2Maha ShivaratriGazetted Holiday

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.