PANCHANG · VRAT DATE
◷ UPCOMING VRAT
Maha Shivratri
Sunday, 15 Feb 2026
Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi · Purnimanta · computed for New Delhi
◷ WHEN YOU CAN BREAK THE FAST
PARANA WINDOW · 16 FEB
06:02 AM – 08:17 AM
Break the fast inside this window on the morning after. Duration approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
FAST BEGINSSunrise, 15 Feb · 06:02 AM
TITHI BEGINS14 Feb · 11:42 PM
TITHI ENDS15 Feb · 10:18 PM
DWADASHI ENDS16 Feb · 08:17 AM
Why the window closes. Why the window closes. Parana must happen after sunrise and before Dwadashi tithi ends. Miss it and the tradition treats the vrat as incomplete — so this is the one timing worth setting an alarm for.
COMPUTED FORNew Delhi, IndiaPurnimanta
⚠ Festival dates differ by city — Vaishnava observers may see 16 FebTHE FAST, END TO END
From sankalp to parana
Roughly ~26 hours. The part most people get wrong is the end, not the beginning.
Fast beginsTithi boundaryParana windowYou are here
Sankalp & sunrise
15 Feb · 06:02 AM
A simple resolve. The fast begins here.
A simple resolve. The fast begins here.
The fast — through the day and night
No grains. Fruit, milk and water permitted. Nirjala is one form, not the requirement.
Maha Shivratri tithi ends
15 Feb · 10:18 PM
The fast continues past this point — it ends at parana, not at the tithi.
The fast continues past this point — it ends at parana, not at the tithi.
Parana window opens
16 Feb, sunrise · 06:02 AM
Window closes — Dwadashi ends
16 Feb · 08:17 AM
Break the fast before this.
Break the fast before this.
THE FULL PANCHANG FOR THIS DATE
Sunday, 15 Feb 2026, New Delhi
COMPUTED VALUES · PURNIMANTA
TithiPhalguna Krishna ChaturdashiBegins 11:42 PM (14 Feb) · ends 10:18 PM (15 Feb)
PakshaKrishna — waning
NakshatraPushyaUntil 04:12 PM
Yoga · KaranaHarshana · Balava
Sunrise · Sunset06:02 AM · 06:35 PM
Rahu Kaal03:20 PM – 04:53 PMAvoided by convention for new beginnings
Parana window16 Feb, 06:02 AM – 08:17 AMApproximately 2h 15m
THIS PAGE ANSWERS "WHEN"
For "how", read the guide
The vidhi, the katha, the fasting forms and the corrections all live in the Ritual Guide — which does not change from one observance to the next.
📖
RITUAL GUIDE
Maha Shivratri Ritual Guide
Sankalp, grain rules, three fasting forms, and parana rules explained for Maha Shivratri.
ASKED EVERY TIME
Quick answers for this date
?Do I fast on the main date or the next day?
Households following the Smarta convention fast on the primary tithi date. Vaishnava observers follow a distinct rule for the same tithi and may fast on the subsequent morning. Both are authentic within their respective traditions.
?What if I wake up after the parana window has closed?
Break the fast as soon as possible upon waking. Traditional guidance treats a late parana as an imperfect observance rather than an invalid one — simply break your fast and set an alarm for future observances.
?Can I drink water during the fast?
Yes. Waterless (Nirjala) fasting is an optional discipline, not a strict requirement for most observances. Fruit, milk, and water are permitted in standard household observances. The central restriction is grain avoidance.
?Why does the date differ between apps and locations?
A tithi starts at a precise astronomical moment, but the Hindu calendar day begins at local sunrise. Because sunrise times vary across cities, a tithi beginning before sunrise in New Delhi may cross a different boundary in other locations.
THIS VRAT RECURS
Every Festival in 2026
Twice a lunar month, twenty-four times a year. Each has its own name and its own parana window.