When is Shiv Jayanti (tithi-based) in 2026?

Friday, 6 March 2026 — Phalgun Vadya Tritiya.

Why is Shiv Jayanti observed twice?

A historical dispute over Shivaji Maharaj's exact birth date led to two parallel traditions — the Hindu panchang's shifting Phalgun Vadya Tritiya, and the fixed 19 February Gregorian date set by the Maharashtra government in 2000. Both traditions continue to be observed in parallel today.

How was 19 February fixed as the government date?

After decades of discussion among historians' committees, then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced on 9 February 2000 that Shiv Jayanti would be observed every year on 19 February — details are on the page for the fixed-date government/civic version.

How are Phalgun Vadya Tritiya and 19 February related?

Both refer to the same historical event — Shivaji Maharaj's birth in Shaka 1551 — Phalgun Vadya Tritiya is the tithi that shifts every year on the Hindu panchang, while 19 February is the fixed date set from that tithi's Gregorian conversion.

Who observes Shiv Jayanti by the tithi?

Tithi/panchang-observant traditionalist groups, cultural and social organisations, and many devotees observe Jayanti by the tithi; the government/civic calendar, however, observes 19 February.

Shiv Jayanti (Tithi-based)

Shiv Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Maharashtra has two major traditions for observing it — the Hindu panchang's shifting Phalgun Vadya (Krishna) Tritiya tithi (the subject of this page), and the fixed Gregorian date of 19 February set by the Maharashtra government. This year (2026), Phalgun Vadya Tritiya falls on Friday, 6 March.

This year's dates (2026)

Friday; Sankashti Chaturthi also falls on this dayFriday, 6 March 2026

Both dates trace back to the same historical event — Shivaji Maharaj's birth, in the Shaka year 1551 — arrived at through different methods of reckoning. Neither date is "wrong"; each depends on which calendar convention is used to compute it. The government/civic version observed on 19 February is a separate topic, covered on its own page.

Significance

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is regarded as the founder of Hindavi Swarajya and one of the most revered figures in Maharashtra's history. His Jayanti is not merely a panchang entry — it is also part of Maharashtra's cultural history, since the question of which date to observe it on has been debated since the early twentieth century.

This debate remains alive today. This page does not treat either tradition as more correct or authentic — it states, neutrally, who observes each tradition, since when, and why.

History & the dating debate

Before the twentieth century, Shivaji Maharaj's birth was believed to have occurred on Vaishakh Shukla Pratipada; later research revised this to Vaishakh Shukla Dwitiya, Shaka 1549 (around 1627 CE) — this is now a largely superseded older belief.

In the early twentieth century, Lokmanya Tilak began publicly observing Shiv Jayanti (at Raigad, the first public Jayanti in 1896 CE, on the date then in use). Around 1914, an old chronicle — identified by the government's Marathi Vishwakosh (encyclopedia) as the "Jedhe Shakavali" — was found to record "Shiv's birth: Phalgun Vadya Tritiya, Shaka 1551, a Friday," which was later matched to 19 February 1630 CE (by the Gregorian calendar). Some other sources identify this original document by a different name — the government Marathi Vishwakosh's "Jedhe Shakavali" record is treated as the more reliable one here.

In 1925, historian Datto Vaman Potdar publicly endorsed this tithi, while N. R. Phatak argued that it lacked conclusive proof, according to the historical record. In the mid-1960s, a committee of historians appointed by then Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan reportedly favoured Phalgun Vadya Tritiya/19 February by a 3-to-1 majority, but no formal government decision followed. In the 1990s, a committee was again appointed under historian G. B. Mehendale, yet the decision remained pending. Finally, on 9 February 2000, then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh officially announced that Shiv Jayanti would be observed every year on 19 February.

The government's own Marathi Vishwakosh states plainly: "there is no consensus on his date of birth." Both traditions — tithi-based and fixed-date — continue to be observed in parallel today. This debate is a question of historical reckoning method — which tithi/calendar conversion to treat as authoritative — and deciding which tradition is "more authentic" is outside the scope of this page.

The panchang data also carries one further, older entry tied to this tithi — a "Shiv Jayanti (by tradition)" label on Vaishakh Shukla Dwitiya (19 April in 2026, the same day as Akshaya Tritiya). This is the pre-twentieth-century, now largely superseded older tradition — it is distinct from this page's subject (Phalgun Vadya Tritiya), and the two should not be conflated.

Drik Panchang, a panchang-calculation source, independently gives the same 2026 date (Friday, 6 March, Phalgun Krishna Tritiya).

Who observes it

Tithi/panchang-observant traditionalist groups, cultural and social organisations, and many devotees of Shivaji Maharaj observe Jayanti on Phalgun Vadya Tritiya; the wider public also follows this tithi. The government/civic calendar, however, observes the holiday on 19 February. This is a cultural observation — it would not be accurate to tie this day to any one political party.

How it is observed

Villages and towns hold processions, powada (ballad) performances, and lectures on Shivaji Maharaj's life. Schools and institutions organise historical programmes and community-service activities. Garlands are offered at statues of the Maharaj in tribute. This is a general picture of how the day is observed — actual programmes can vary by town and village.

Regional customs

The Phalgun-tithi-based Jayanti is observed especially among tithi/panchang-observant traditionalist groups and many cultural-religious organisations. Reports were found that Shivneri (Shivaji Maharaj's birthplace) has, in some years, also chosen to mark the tithi-based date — this is a single-source observation, not independently corroborated.

Good to know

The tithi-based date (Phalgun Vadya Tritiya) and the fixed government date (19 February) are two separate, parallel traditions — avoid stating that either one alone is "the official" date.
Historical dates and committee years vary slightly across sources (for instance, the exact committee year) — check a primary government document if you need an exact figure.
Check the exact time and route of local processions/programmes with your town's administration or organising committee beforehand.

FAQ

When is Shiv Jayanti (tithi-based) in 2026?: Friday, 6 March 2026 — Phalgun Vadya Tritiya.
Why is Shiv Jayanti observed twice?: A historical dispute over Shivaji Maharaj's exact birth date led to two parallel traditions — the Hindu panchang's shifting Phalgun Vadya Tritiya, and the fixed 19 February Gregorian date set by the Maharashtra government in 2000. Both traditions continue to be observed in parallel today.
How was 19 February fixed as the government date?: After decades of discussion among historians' committees, then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced on 9 February 2000 that Shiv Jayanti would be observed every year on 19 February — details are on the page for the fixed-date government/civic version.
How are Phalgun Vadya Tritiya and 19 February related?: Both refer to the same historical event — Shivaji Maharaj's birth in Shaka 1551 — Phalgun Vadya Tritiya is the tithi that shifts every year on the Hindu panchang, while 19 February is the fixed date set from that tithi's Gregorian conversion.
Who observes Shiv Jayanti by the tithi?: Tithi/panchang-observant traditionalist groups, cultural and social organisations, and many devotees observe Jayanti by the tithi; the government/civic calendar, however, observes 19 February.