The 13th of February 2018, Tuesday, accounts for two of the Hindu holy sacred event and festival, namely, Pradosh Vrat and Maha Shivratri, respectively. Pradosh Vrat is not regarded a holiday in India. Maha Shivratri is a gazetted holiday in India, but many of the private sector offices remain functional or have a short-early work day. Almost all of the Government offices, PSUs, many schools etc remain closed. Almost all of the Government offices, PSUs, many schools etc remain closed. Both the occasions are marked in tribute to Lord Shiva.
The dates of both Pradosh Vrat and Maha Shivratri are determined per the Hindu lunar calendar. That is, Pradosh Vrat per the Hindu lunar month, falls on the Trayodashi Tithi (Trayodashi means the 13th day, and Tithi is the lunar day in the lunar Hindu calendar, therefore, the 13th lunar day), during Shukla Paksha (in the phenomena of waxing (ascending) moon, fortnight).
Maha Shivratri date-day is also determined per the Hindu lunar calendar which falls on the Chaturdashi (14th lunar day) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha). The event and fasting starts on the auspicious night of the 13th of February in 2018 and remains through the 14th day. Chaturdashi is a Sanskrit mathematics number, meaning, Chatur – four, dashi (or dasi) means 10, i.e., 4 + 10 = 14; likewise, Trayodashi – ‘Trayo’ means 3 and dashi – 10, ∴, 3 + 10 = 13.
Pradosh Vrat (fasting) is observed by mostly devotees of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. ‘Pradosh’ relates to the time per the Hindu calendar, i.e., twice a month, 13th lunar day of every fortnight, of both Shukla Paksha or Krishna Paksha. ‘Vrat’ means fasting.
The dates for Pradosh Vrat, ex-Delhi for 2018 are—
(Please verify the date-time per your location towards the ‘fast’ and ‘Puja’ (prayer ceremony) timing)
1. 14th of January, Sunday
2. 29th of January, Monday
3. 13th of February, Tuesday
4. 28th of February, Wednesday
5. 15th of March, Thursday
6. 29th of March, Thursday
7. 14th of April, Saturday
8. 28th of April, Saturday
9. 13th of May, Sunday
10. 27th of May, Sunday
11. 11th of June, Monday
12. 25th of June, Monday
13. 10th of July, Tuesday
14. 24th of July, Tuesday
15. 9th of August, Thursday
16. 23rd of August, Thursday
17. 7th of September, Friday
18. 22nd of September, Saturday
19. 6th of October, Saturday
20. 22nd of October, Monday
21. 5th of November, Monday
22. 20th of November, Tuesday
23. 4th of December, Tuesday
24. 20th of December, Thursday
Maha Shivratri is also regarded as the birthday of Lord Shiva. Maha Shivratri literally means a night dedicated and devoted to Lord Shiva. ‘Maha’ means big or mega and ‘Ratri’ means night. In addition to the once a year Maha Shivratri festivity, a day (event) every month is dedicated in remembrance-worship of Lord Shiva, called Masik Shivratri. ‘Masik’ means monthly. Again, like Maha Shivratri, the Masik Shivratri date is determined per the Hindu lunar calendar, as per the Chaturthi Tithi (4th lunar day) of the Krishna Paksha (waning moon phase) as explained in the earlier blog ‘Masik Shivratri’ dated 13th of January 2018 at site www.yesicanchange.com .
The dates for Maha Shivratri, ex-Delhi for the subsequent ten years are—
1. 2019 4th of March, Monday
2. 2020 21st of February, Friday
3. 2021 11th of March, Thursday
4. 2022 1st of March, Tuesday
5. 2023 18th of March, Saturday
6. 2024 8th of March, Friday
7. 2025 26th of February, Wednesday
8. 2026 15th of February, Sunday
9. 2027 6th of March, Saturday
10. 2028 23rd of February, Wednesday
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