Shiv Ratri

Shiva Ratri or Shiv Jayanti is a Hindu festival or holy day that is celebrated once every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month Maagha (as per Shalivahana) or Phalguna(as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar. Known variously as Maha Shivratri, Maha Sivaratri, Shivaratri or Sivaratri it means literaly the "Birth Night of Shiva". Traditionally, the most significant practices on this day are offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, fasting and all night long vigil.

To the Brahmakumaris, the festival symbolises divine incarnation of their god Shiva on earth into Lekhraj Kirpalani in 1937 and is a rememberance of this same incident 5,000 years ago. "Night" symbolizes to the BKs the moral degradation into which the humanity has sunk, according to what they see as "the darkness of ignorance".

Although orthodox BKs do not practise Hinduism or Hindu rituals, the BKWSU celebrate this festival loosely with their own interpretation, the event becoming an opportunity to bring non-BKs into closer contact.