New Delhi: In India, the monsoon season begins in the month of Sawan. This year, the month of Sawan or Shravan begins on July 4, 2023, and ends on August 31, 2023. Sawan is a sacred month dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva for success, marriage, and wealth. Sawan will be 59 days long this year, with eight Sawan Mondays or Somwar instead of the customary four. Such a lengthy Saawan is occuring after 19 years. It is to be noted that an extra month, known as Adhik Maas or Mal Maas to Hindus, is affecting the Saawan this year due to astrological calculations.
The month is marked by total devotion to Lord Shiva and observing fasts, especially on Mondays, which are dedicated to Lord Shiva and are known as ‘Shravan Somvar Vrat’. Some people even observe fasts on Tuesdays, which was known as 'Mangala Gauri Vrat'.
According to Drik Panchang, here are the important dates:
July 4, 2023, Tuesday - Shravan Begins
July 10, 2023, Monday - First Shravan Somwar Vrat
July 17, 2023, Monday - Second Shravan Somwar Vrat
July 18, 2023, Tuesday - Shravan Adhika Maas Begins
July 24, 2023, Monday - Third Shravan Somwar Vrat
July 31, 2023, Monday - Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat
August 7, 2023, Monday - Fifth Shravan Somwar Vrat
August 14, 2023, Monday - Sixth Shravan Somwar Vrat
August 16, 2023, Wednesday - Shravan Adhika Maas Ends
August 21, 2023, Monday - Seventh Shravan Somwar Vrat
August 28, 2023, Monday - Eighth Shravan Somwar Vrat
August 31, 2023, Thursday - Shravan Ends
Devotees wear traditional attire, carry water pots (known as kanwars) on their shoulders, and embark on a pilgrimage known as Kanwar Yatra. This pilgrimage involves walking to sacred rivers, such as the Ganges, and collecting water to offer to Lord Shiva.
Saawan Shivaratri:
Shivaratri is celebrated as the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to the legends, Lord Shiva was impressed by Goddess Parvati’s devotion and granted her wish to marry him.
It is considered good to rise at brahma muhurta, bathe at dawn, and worship Lord Shiva. Also, give Lord Shiva samagri such as milk, curd, honey, sugar, sandalwood paste, gangajal, and saffron.
Sawan Shivratri is particularly famous in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar, where the Purnimant Lunar Calendar is practised. In the south, where the Amavasyant Lunar Calendar is followed, Sawan Shivratri coincides to Ashadha Shivratri in regions like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.