📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kinkhab
Religion
Shivratri 2024: India Prepares for the Divine Night of Lord Shiva
✍️ Aaj Tak
🗓 29 Jul 2026, 11:41 PM
👁 6
Shivratri, falling on 28th August 2024, will be observed nationwide with fasting, night vigils, and temple rituals.
Shivratri 2024 is scheduled for 28 August, marking the night when Lord Shiva is believed to have performed the cosmic dance of creation. The festival is observed across India with devotees observing fasts, chanting hymns, and staying awake till dawn. Temples from Varanasi to Chennai will host special night vigils, where priests perform the abhishekam—ritual bathing of the Shiva lingam with milk, honey, and ghee.
Devotees also offer bilva leaves, fruits, and sweets to the deity, believing that the night brings blessings of health, prosperity, and spiritual growth. Many families will gather for a communal meal after the night’s rituals, sharing traditional dishes like bhakri and sabudana khichdi.
The government has announced that public transport will remain operational to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, and several states have scheduled special prayers in major temples. The festival also coincides with the end of the monsoon season, adding to its cultural significance.
Shivratri is not only a religious observance but also a cultural event that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds. It is expected to attract millions of devotees, reinforcing India's rich spiritual heritage.
Devotees also offer bilva leaves, fruits, and sweets to the deity, believing that the night brings blessings of health, prosperity, and spiritual growth. Many families will gather for a communal meal after the night’s rituals, sharing traditional dishes like bhakri and sabudana khichdi.
The government has announced that public transport will remain operational to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, and several states have scheduled special prayers in major temples. The festival also coincides with the end of the monsoon season, adding to its cultural significance.
Shivratri is not only a religious observance but also a cultural event that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds. It is expected to attract millions of devotees, reinforcing India's rich spiritual heritage.