Maha Shivaratri

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/maha-shivaratri

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the festival designation?Maha Shivaratri, meaning 'The Great Night of Shiva'
2. What is the primary deities honored?Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
3. When is Maha Shivaratri celebrated?It is celebrated on the night of the new moon in the month of Phalguna, which usually falls in February or March.
4. Why do people stay awake during Maha Shivaratri?Staying awake, called jagarana, shows devotion and helps keep the mind focused on Shiva for spiritual awakening.

Tandava: Shiva's vigorous cosmic dance, symbolizing creation, preservation, and destruction.
Jyotirlingams: Twelve sacred shrines considered the most significant manifestations of Lord Shiva.
Jagarana: The practice of remaining awake throughout the night during religious observances.
Ahimsa: The principle of non-violence or non-injury to living beings.