Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival that is celebrated annually in India and Nepal. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word Shivaratri, which means the thirteenth night or the fourteenth day. The event is a religious celebration that is primarily a Hindu festival of worship and devotion to the god Shiva, although other gods and festivals are also celebrated. It is a major festival of the Indian subcontinent, and is observed by the Bihari and Nepali peoples. The event is a night-time affair, and the main festivities take place from the evening of the 13th day to the morning of the 14th day of the Hindu calendar. The festivities include the offering of a special prayer to the god Shiva, and the burning of a special fire. The event is also a day of fasting and abstinence from eating and drinking water.