After the conclusion of Guru Purnima and Lunar Eclipse July 5 i.e. today, marks the beginning of the month of Sawan. Lord Shiva is worshiped throughout the month of Sawan. It is believed that as compared to other days, praying to Lord Shiva in the month of Sawan holds more importance as it is one of the holiest months according to the Hindu calendar. During the holy month of Sawan, the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, the Shivalinga is offered water in prayers.
The important dates in Shravan as per Purnimant are:
July 6 – First Shravan Somwar (First Monday and the first day of Shravan)
July 13 – Second Shravan Somwar
July 20 – Third Shravan Somwar
July 27 – Fourth Shravan Somwar
August 3 – Fifth Shravan Somwar (last Somwar and the last day of the month)
As per the Amavasyant calendar, the important dates are:
July 21 – Shravan month begins
July 27 – First Shravan Somwar
August 3 – Second Shravan Somwar
August 10 – Third Shravan Somwar
August 17 – Fourth Shravan Somwar
August 19 – Shravan month ends
Sawan 2020
According to drikpanchang.com, Sawan Somwar vrat dates for Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Jharkhand begin from July 17 until August 15. While for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu it is from August 2 to 30. There is a difference of 15 days in the starting period of this month depending on the followed lunar calendar in the region.
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This year, the month of Sawan has started on July 17 with Shivratri on July 30. Four Mondays will feature in the Sawan month this year which are on July 22, July 29, August 5 and August 12. It is during this month of Sawan that Raksha Bandhan and Naag Panchami will be celebrated too. The holy month of Sawan will end on August 15.
The month of Sawan holds immense significance for the Hindu religion. It is believed that in the month of Sawan, Lord Shiva was impressed by the austerity of Parvati and chose her as his wife then. It is also believed that Lord Shiva fulfills the wishes of all his followers during the month of Sawan.
It is also said that during the month of Sawan, Lord Shiva blesses his followers with prestige and also with good life partners for women who fast for the god.
During this month, all Mondays or Somwar are considered highly auspicious for observing a fast known as Shravan Somwar or Sawan Somwar Vrats. Many devotees observe the 16 Mondays or Solah Somwar fast from first Somwar of Sawan month. All Tuesdays or Mangalwar in Shravan month are dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Tuesday’s fasting during Shravan month is known as Mangal Gauri Vrat. Sawan Shivaratri and Hariyali Amavasya are other auspicious days during Shravan month.
Each year during the month of Sawan, lakhs of followers of Lord Shiva hold the Kanwar Yatra. Saffron-clad Kanwars are Lord Shiva devotees who gather at Haridwar every year to take a dip and collect the water of the holy river Ganga to offer it to Lord Shiva. The Kanwars carry the holy water with them on their shoulders and offer it to Shivalingas in temples on the eve of Shivratri. This form of Shiva worship has a special significance in regions around the Ganga.
The Kanwar Yatra usually stretches for over 100 kilometres. The pilgrims, a motley assembly including old and young people, women and men, children and even differently-abled can be spotted at holy sites by Ganga such as Gangotri, Gaumukh and Hardwar and the Jyotilingam shrines of Shiva
A festival which is similar to north India’s Kanwar Yatra is celebrated as the Kavadi festival in Tamil Nadu wherein Lord Muruga is worshipped.
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