श्रावण 2026 — शिव का महीना
The holiest month for Lord Shiva devotees • July–August 2026
London, UK
श्रावण 2026-08-13 से 2026-09-10 तक
प्रमुख त्योहार
Worship of serpent deities. Major Karnataka observance at Kukke Subramanya temple.
Start of Jhulana Yatra — 5-day swing festival where Radha and Krishna deities are placed on a decorated swing (jhula). Shravana Shukla Ekadashi. Major celebration in Vrindavan and Krishna temples worldwide. Concludes on Shravana Purnima (Balarama Jayanti).
Thiruvonam — the harvest festival of Kerala celebrating the homecoming of King Mahabali. Marked by Onasadya feast, Pookalam floral art, Vallam Kali boat races, and Pulikali.
Festival of the sacred thread.
Gayatri mantra japa. Day after Avani Avittam (Shravana Krishna Pratipad).
Completion day of Sri Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh in 1705 (added Guru Tegh Bahadur's bani).
Birthday of Lord Krishna — celebrated at midnight (Nishita Kala) when Krishna Ashtami prevails. Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami; Smarta tradition observes when Ashtami covers midnight, Vaishnava observes when Ashtami covers next-day sunrise. Drik convention: midnight evaluation.
Birthday of Lord Krishna (Gokulashtami).
Festival of Nanda Maharaja — celebrating the joy of Krishna's appearance at Gokula. Bhadrapada Krishna Navami (day after Janmashtami). Same day as Srila Prabhupada's appearance. Major ISKCON observance.
Start of the 8-day Shvetambara Jain festival of reflection, fasting, and seeking forgiveness — the most important Jain religious festival. Shravana Krishna Dwadashi in Amanta reckoning (Bhadrapada Krishna Dwadashi in Purnimanta almanacs). Concludes with Samvatsari on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.
First Prakash (installation) of Adi Granth at Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in 1604 by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Marks the founding moment of the Sikh scripture.
Worship of Goddess Gowri (Parvati) by married women — the day before Ganesh Chaturthi in Karnataka. Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.
Birthday of Lord Ganesha — Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. Defining 10-day public observance of Maharashtra and Goa: clay murtis installed in homes and pandals, daily aarti and modak offerings, culminating in visarjan procession on Anant Chaturdashi. Drik Madhyahna convention: tithi evaluated at solar noon, emits on the day Chaturthi spans midday per the Brahma Vaivarta Purana.
Start of the 10-day Digambar Jain Paryushan (Das Lakshan Mahaparva), beginning the day after Shvetambara Samvatsari ends. Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami onwards. Each of the 10 days is dedicated to one of the 10 Dharma virtues (Uttam Kshama, Mardav, Arjav, etc.).
Sawan Somwar · पूर्णिमांत — उत्तर भारत
Monday vrat of Sawan (Shravana), the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform jalabhishek / Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with Ganga water, milk and bilva leaves, and Kanwariyas carry Ganga water to Shiva shrines. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the PURNIMANTA Sawan of North India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Delhi), which begins a fortnight before the Amanta month emitted as Shravan Somvar.
Monday vrat of Sawan (Shravana), the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform jalabhishek / Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with Ganga water, milk and bilva leaves, and Kanwariyas carry Ganga water to Shiva shrines. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the PURNIMANTA Sawan of North India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Delhi), which begins a fortnight before the Amanta month emitted as Shravan Somvar.
Monday vrat of Sawan (Shravana), the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform jalabhishek / Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with Ganga water, milk and bilva leaves, and Kanwariyas carry Ganga water to Shiva shrines. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the PURNIMANTA Sawan of North India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Delhi), which begins a fortnight before the Amanta month emitted as Shravan Somvar.
Monday vrat of Sawan (Shravana), the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform jalabhishek / Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with Ganga water, milk and bilva leaves, and Kanwariyas carry Ganga water to Shiva shrines. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the PURNIMANTA Sawan of North India (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Delhi), which begins a fortnight before the Amanta month emitted as Shravan Somvar.
Shravan Somvar · अमांत — पश्चिम और दक्षिण
Monday vrat of the lunar month Shravana, the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with water, milk and bilva leaves, and break the fast after the evening puja. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the AMANTA Shravana (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra/Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala); the Purnimanta (North Indian) month is a fortnight earlier and is emitted separately as Sawan Somwar.
Monday vrat of the lunar month Shravana, the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with water, milk and bilva leaves, and break the fast after the evening puja. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the AMANTA Shravana (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra/Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala); the Purnimanta (North Indian) month is a fortnight earlier and is emitted separately as Sawan Somwar.
Monday vrat of the lunar month Shravana, the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with water, milk and bilva leaves, and break the fast after the evening puja. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the AMANTA Shravana (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra/Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala); the Purnimanta (North Indian) month is a fortnight earlier and is emitted separately as Sawan Somwar.
Monday vrat of the lunar month Shravana, the month of Lord Shiva — devotees fast through the day, perform Rudrabhisheka of the Shiva linga with water, milk and bilva leaves, and break the fast after the evening puja. 4-5 Mondays per month. This row follows the AMANTA Shravana (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra/Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala); the Purnimanta (North Indian) month is a fortnight earlier and is emitted separately as Sawan Somwar.
Mangala Gauri Vrat
Maharashtrian women's vrat — every Tuesday (Mangalvar) in the lunar month of Shravana. 4-5 Tuesday observance. Newly-married women fast and worship Goddess Gauri (Parvati) for marital harmony and family well-being for the first 5 years of marriage. Observed on each Tuesday of Shravana (Amanta).
Maharashtrian women's vrat — every Tuesday (Mangalvar) in the lunar month of Shravana. 4-5 Tuesday observance. Newly-married women fast and worship Goddess Gauri (Parvati) for marital harmony and family well-being for the first 5 years of marriage. Observed on each Tuesday of Shravana (Amanta).
Maharashtrian women's vrat — every Tuesday (Mangalvar) in the lunar month of Shravana. 4-5 Tuesday observance. Newly-married women fast and worship Goddess Gauri (Parvati) for marital harmony and family well-being for the first 5 years of marriage. Observed on each Tuesday of Shravana (Amanta).
Maharashtrian women's vrat — every Tuesday (Mangalvar) in the lunar month of Shravana. 4-5 Tuesday observance. Newly-married women fast and worship Goddess Gauri (Parvati) for marital harmony and family well-being for the first 5 years of marriage. Observed on each Tuesday of Shravana (Amanta).
About Shravan Month
Shravan (also called Sawan) is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, falling in July–August. It is considered the holiest month for devotees of Lord Shiva. The entire month is dedicated to Shiva worship, with Mondays (Shravan Somvar) being especially sacred.
According to Hindu mythology, during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the cosmic ocean), the deadly poison Halahala emerged and threatened to destroy all creation. Lord Shiva drank the poison to save the universe, and Goddess Parvati pressed his throat to prevent it from going further, turning his throat blue — earning him the name Neelkanth.
Devotees offer water and milk to the Shiva Lingam during Shravan to cool the effect of the poison. The Kanwar Yatra, where millions of devotees carry Ganga water to their local Shiva temples, takes place during this month.
Shravan Fasting Rules
Shravan fasting rules are stricter than regular Somvar Vrat. Many devotees observe strict vegetarianism for the entire month, with additional fasting on Mondays.
- Wake before sunrise and take a holy bath. Wear clean, preferably white or light-coloured clothes.
- Visit a Shiva temple or perform abhishekam on a Shiva Lingam at home with milk, water, bilva leaves, and dhatura.
- Strict vegetarian diet throughout the month — no onion, garlic, or non-vegetarian food.
- On Somvar (Monday) fast days: consume only fruits, milk, and sabudana. Avoid grains and salt (or use sendha namak).
- Break the Monday fast after sunset or after evening Shiva puja.
- Offer water (Jal Abhishek) to Shiva Lingam daily, especially on Mondays.
- Chant "Om Namah Shivaya" 108 times daily using a Rudraksha mala.
- Read or listen to Shiva Purana and Somvar Vrat Katha during the month.
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and tamasic food throughout the entire month.
- Practice celibacy (brahmacharya) during Shravan for maximum spiritual benefit.
Regional Differences
Shravan begins after Guru Purnima and ends on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan). This is the most common observance in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, and Delhi. The Kanwar Yatra is a major tradition — devotees carry Ganga water on foot to pour on their local Shiva Lingam.
Shravan begins after Amavasya in Ashadha. In Maharashtra, the month is associated with the Shravan Shukla observances. In Tamil Nadu, the corresponding month is Aadi, and in Karnataka, it is Shravana. The festivals overlap but the month boundaries differ by roughly 15 days.
In Gujarat, the entire Shravan month is observed with strict vegetarianism even by those who normally eat non-vegetarian food. Many restaurants in Gujarat serve only vegetarian food during Shravan.
- North India (Purnimant Calendar)
- South India & West India (Amant Calendar)
- Gujarat
Shravan Mantras
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya — The supreme Shiva mantra, chant 108 times daily
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् | उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra — Powerful for health, protection, and longevity
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न
Why is Shravan month considered so holy?
Shravan is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to mythology, this is the month when the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) took place, and Lord Shiva consumed the Halahala poison to save the universe. Devotees fast and worship Shiva during this month to express gratitude and seek blessings. The monsoon season also makes it ideal for spiritual practices.
What is the difference between Purnimant and Amant Shravan?
In North India (Purnimant calendar), Shravan begins after Guru Purnima (full moon in Ashadha). In South and West India (Amant calendar), it begins after the new moon (Amavasya) in Ashadha. The festivals observed are the same, but the month boundaries differ by about 15 days.
Can women observe Shravan Somvar Vrat?
Yes, Shravan Somvar Vrat is observed by both men and women. Unmarried women fast to pray for a good husband (like Lord Shiva), and married women fast for their husband's long life and well-being. There are no gender restrictions on this vrat.
यह भाग अंग्रेज़ी में है।