Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it is celebrated annually in late winter or early spring. The festival falls on the 14th night of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Phalguna, which corresponds to February or March in the Gregorian calendar.

The Maha Shivaratri puja or worship involves several rituals and customs that are performed by devotees to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. Here are some of the essential steps of the puja:

1. Take a bath or shower and wear clean clothes.
2. Decorate the altar with flowers, fruits, and other offerings. Place a Shiva Linga, a symbol of Lord Shiva, on the altar.
3. Light a lamp and incense sticks.
4. Offer water, milk, honey, and other sacred items to the Shiva Linga.
5. Recite mantras and hymns dedicated to Lord Shiva, such as the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.
6. Observe fast or eat only vegetarian food during the day.
7. Stay awake all night and engage in meditation, chanting, and listening to devotional songs.
8. Perform the Rudra Abhishekam, which involves bathing the Shiva Linga with various sacred items like milk, honey, and curd.
9. Offer prayers to Lord Shiva's family, including his consort Parvati, their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya, and his devotees like Nandi, the bull.
10. Conclude the puja by seeking Lord Shiva's blessings for health, happiness, and prosperity.

The Maha Shivaratri puja is a significant event for devotees of Lord Shiva, who believe that performing the puja with devotion and sincerity can remove obstacles in life and grant spiritual upliftment.