Mahasivarathri Day
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
15 Feb 2026 Sunday | BankPublic |
06 Mar 2027 Saturday | BankPublic |
Overview
Maha Shivaratri, "the great night of Shiva," is one of the most important nights in the Hindu calendar, observed with day-long fasting and an all-night vigil at Shiva temples (kovils). Several legends are associated with the night: that it marks the occasion Shiva performed his cosmic Tandava dance representing creation, preservation and destruction; that it commemorates Shiva drinking a pool of poison that emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean, saving the universe from its effects; and, in some traditions, that it marks Shiva's marriage to the goddess Parvati. Devotees traditionally offer bael (bilva) leaves at Shiva shrines and remain awake through the night in prayer and meditation rather than sleep, believing that vigilance and devotion on this night carry particular spiritual merit. Sri Lanka's Hindu community, concentrated especially in the Northern and Eastern provinces and the hill country, observes the night with extended temple pujas, and it's common for devotees to make the pilgrimage to a kovil on foot, barefoot, as an act of austerity.
Significance
Devotees traditionally observe a day-long fast and stay awake through the night in prayer and meditation, believed to be the night Shiva performed his cosmic dance and, in some traditions, the night he and Parvati married.
How it's observed
Hindu temples (kovils) hold extended prayers through the night. Many observant Hindus fast until the following morning, so expect quieter mornings around temples in Hindu neighbourhoods and reduced activity at some Tamil-owned businesses.
See the Sri Lanka long weekends list or use the interactive holiday planner.