This is an auspicious day in the Hindu culture and a lot of preparations are made before the commencement of all the major functions. Go through the following list, which will help you to make the arrangements in a short span of time.

Preparations for the Maha Shivratri Puja

Lord Shiva performing Tandava

  • Panchamrut made of un-boiled milk, curds, ghee, honey and powdered sugar.

  • Roll, moli, chawal, sandalwood powder/paste, dhoop, deepak, agarbathi, karpoor, matchsticks, janeu and kacha soot (raw white thread), Gangajal Bhaang, bhasm (ash).

  • Flowers, durva (tender grass), belpatr (if possible write ’Ram’ with sandalwood paste on every leaf).

  • Aakde ke flowers (wild white and purple flowers), dhatura leaves and flowers, lotus flowers.

  • Green bel fruit, betel leaves, betel nut, cloves, cardamom.

  • Five kinds of dry fruits: almonds, cashew nuts, raisins, taalmakhana and dry coconut. Slice dry coconut finely halve the cashew and taalmakhana and mix it with almonds and raisins.

  • Sweets for prasad: this has to be non-cereal like peda, coconut barfi, laddoo, etc.

  • Thandai (a drink made from milk, almonds, elaichi).

  • Money for dakshina, Book of aartis.

Vidhi / Method of Performing Maha Shiv Ratri Puja

The entire family of Lord Shiva is worshiped on this day, including Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Karthikeyan and Nandi. The days starts with prayers and continues with fasting where people eat either at night after Puja or in the next morning.  

After the Puja, Lord Shiva is offered the holy panchamrut followed by sweets and thandai.

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