Maha Shivaratri 2026 in South Africa: date and local timings
Maha Shivaratri 2026 falls on Sunday 15 February 2026 in all 2 South Africa cities listed here. In India it is on Sunday 15 February 2026 – the same day. The rule: Magha bahula chaturdashi at nishita; larger coverage wins. In Johannesburg the nishita (the middle muhurta of the night, around midnight) on 15 February 2026 runs 11:59 PM – 12:44 AM (16 Feb) local time, and the tithi runs from 15 February 2026 1:35 PM to 16 February 2026 2:04 PM. The table gives the date for each city with the nishita window and the tithi in local clock time (daylight saving applied), all computed from the NASA/JPL ephemeris for the city's own sunrise and sunset, never converted from IST. Dates here follow the Telugu (amanta) almanac rules. Many Hindu families in Fiji, Mauritius and South Africa use North-Indian (purnimanta) almanacs, which name the months differently and can differ for some vratams; the main festivals that are fixed by a tithi at a part of the day come out the same.
| Cities | Date | Nishita | Tithi (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | Sunday 15 February 2026 | 11:59 PM – 12:44 AM (16 Feb) | 15 February 2026 1:35 PM – 16 February 2026 2:04 PM |
| Durban | Sunday 15 February 2026 | 11:48 PM – 12:31 AM (16 Feb) | 15 February 2026 1:35 PM – 16 February 2026 2:04 PM |
FAQ
When is Maha Shivaratri 2026 in South Africa?
Maha Shivaratri 2026 is on Sunday 15 February 2026 in Johannesburg, Durban.
Is Maha Shivaratri on the same day in South Africa and India?
Yes, in India it is on Sunday 15 February 2026.
How is the date of Maha Shivaratri decided?
Magha bahula chaturdashi at nishita; larger coverage wins.
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Maha Shivaratri 2026 (India) · Festivals 2026 – South Africa · South Africa