Today marks the beginning of the Shravan month, also known as Sawan, a significant time in India that heralds the monsoon season. Hindus, especially devotees of Bhagwan Shiva and Maa Parvati, observe fasts (vrat) and worship them seeking blessings. During this month, known as Sawan Somwar, devotees keep fasts on Mondays and offer various items such as panchamrit, jaggery, bhuna chana, bel patra, datura, milk, rice, and Chandan to Bhagwan Shiva.
According to Drik Panchang, Sawan commences on July 22 and concludes on August 19 this year, spanning 29 days.
July 22, 2024 – Sawan Begins (First Shravan Somwar vrat)
July 29, 2024 – Second Shravan Somwar vrat
August 5, 2024 – Third Shravan Somwar vrat
August 12, 2024 – Fourth Shravan Somwar vrat
August 19, 2024 – Sawan ends (Last or fifth Shravan Somwar vrat)
On the first Monday of’ Sawan’ month, prayers were offered at Kashi Vishwanath temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi. Devotees could be seen taking a holy dip in the revered Ganga River.
#WATCH | Varanasi, UP: Devotees take holy dip in Ganga River, on the occasion of the first Monday of 'Sawan' month. pic.twitter.com/wyg6IvwqYV
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2024
Prayers were also offered at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh’ Ujjain.
#WATCH | MP: Prayers being offered at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, on the first Monday of 'Sawan' month. pic.twitter.com/H6NsIYZ5ZC
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) July 21, 2024
Devotees offered prayers at Baba Nageshwar temple at Naya Ganj in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh today.
Pilgrims were seen arriving in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar with their Kanwar Yatra to collect Gangajal and offer it to Bhagwan Shiva.
#WATCH | Haridwar, Uttarakhand: Devotees take holy dip in the Ganga River, on the occasion of the first Monday of 'Sawan' month. pic.twitter.com/pqjg4tEJzS
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 22, 2024
Devotees thronged Baba Baidyanath Mandir in Jharkhand’s Deoghar today.
#WATCH | Deoghar, Jharkhand: Devotees throng Baba Baidyanath temple, on the occasion of the first Monday of 'Sawan' month. pic.twitter.com/hgJONCHQJ3
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2024
Devotees also offered prayers at Gauri Shankar Mandir in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, on the occasion of ‘Sawan’ month.
Sawan holds a special place in Hindu mythology as the month when Bhagwan Shiva is believed to have consumed the poison that emerged from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), saving the universe from its toxic effects.
Devotees undertake fasting and offer prayers to seek the blessings of Bhagwan Shiva during this period. The cooling rains of Sawan are symbolic of Shiva’s compassion and benevolence.
The chanting of Shiva mantras, singing bhajans (devotional songs), and performing Rudrabhishek (a ceremonial bathing of Shiva Lingam with holy substances) are common practices observed with fervour across households and temples.
In other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Sawan will begin on August 5 and end on September 3.
