Hindu festival
Maha Shivaratree in Epsom
usually February / March (lunar)
This year's gathering
Date to be announced. Join the WhatsApp community and we will share the evening, running order, and any tickets as soon as the hall is booked.
WhatsApp communityMaha Shivaratree — the great night of Shiva — is the festival many Hindu Mauritians will name first. In Mauritius it is a national moment: pilgrims carry kanwars along the roads to Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin), fast, and keep vigil through the night. It is the island’s largest Hindu gathering, and it stays with people long after they leave.
We cannot recreate that pilgrimage in Surrey. What we can offer is a place to mark the night together: prayers, bhajans, and the company of families who know what the day means. HMS (UK) gathers at St. Clement’s Church Hall in Epsom, on Kingston Road.
The date follows the lunar calendar, so it moves each year — typically February or March. This page stays put; when the year’s evening is confirmed it will appear below. Traditional wear is welcome. If you are fasting or keeping a vigil in your own way, come as you are.
Where we gather
St. Clement's Church Hall307 Kingston Rd, Epsom KT19 0BW — West Ewell / Epsom border
Every HMS (UK) festival gathering is in Epsom. New Year's Eve is the exception, in Kingston.
How to get to Epsom →Questions
When is Maha Shivaratree this year?
It follows the lunar calendar, so the date moves — usually February or March. When HMS (UK) has confirmed an evening, it is listed on this page and under Events. Until then, the date is to be announced.
Is there a pilgrimage in the UK?
No. The famous walk to Ganga Talao is in Mauritius. In Epsom we mark the festival with a community gathering — prayers and togetherness — rather than a procession.
What should I wear or bring?
Traditional wear is always welcome, and so are ordinary clothes. If our running order asks you to bring anything (prasad, a dish to share), we will say so on the dated event page and in WhatsApp.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Maha Shivaratree is a family occasion for us. The evening is prayers and community, not a late concert.
Where in Epsom do you gather?
St. Clement’s Church Hall, 307 Kingston Road, KT19 0BW. See the Epsom page for maps, stations and how to come from nearby towns.