Pradosh Vrat is the twilight worship of Shiva on the Trayodashi tithi — the thirteenth day of each fortnight. Fasting through the day, devotees worship the Shivling during Pradosh Kaal, the roughly two-hour window around sunset when Shiva is said to dance in his cosmic form.
Sawan 2026 holds two Pradosh Vrats — Som Pradosh on Monday 10 August and Bhaum Pradosh on Tuesday 25 August. Below are the dates, the exact Pradosh Kaal timings for New Delhi, the puja vidhi, and the meaning of Som versus Bhaum Pradosh.
Sawan Pradosh Vrat 2026 at a glance
Vrat
Pradosh Vrat (Shiva)
In Sawan 2026
2 Pradosh Vrats
Som Pradosh
Mon, 10 August 2026
Bhaum Pradosh
Tue, 25 August 2026
Pradosh Kaal
~2 hrs around sunset
Tithi
Trayodashi
Sawan Pradosh 2026 dates & Pradosh Kaal
The two twilight worship windows for New Delhi
Som Pradosh
Monday, 10 August 2026
A Pradosh that falls on a Monday is Som Pradosh, doubly auspicious for Shiva worship as Monday is itself Shiva’s day. It is kept for fulfilment of wishes and marital happiness.
Bhaum Pradosh
Tuesday, 25 August 2026
A Pradosh on a Tuesday is Bhaum Pradosh (Bhaum = Mangal). It is held especially auspicious for health, freedom from debt, and relief from the troubles of Mars.
Pradosh Kaal windows are for New Delhi and shift with the local sunset.
What is Pradosh Kaal
The twilight hour of Shiva worship
Pradosh Kaal is the sandhi, or junction, of day and night — the twilight around sunset, generally taken as the ninety minutes before and after the sun sets, on the Trayodashi tithi. This is the hour dear to Shiva; tradition holds that he dances the Tandava on Mount Kailash at this time, with all the gods in attendance. Worship offered in this narrow window is considered especially fruitful, which is why the Pradosh Vrat centres on the evening rather than the daytime. Because the window depends on the local sunset, the exact minutes differ from city to city.
Pradosh Vrat puja vidhi
How the evening worship is performed
Devotees keep the fast through the day and bathe again shortly before sunset. As Pradosh Kaal begins, they worship Shiva — bathing the Shivling with water, milk and honey, offering bilva leaves, white flowers, dhatura and akshat, and lighting a lamp. The Pradosh stotra, the Shiva Chalisa or the Mahamrityunjaya mantra is recited, followed by the aarti. On Som Pradosh many combine this with the Monday Sawan Somwar worship. The fast is broken after the evening puja, once the prasad has been offered.
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
Som Pradosh vs Bhaum Pradosh
Why the weekday changes the significance
The weekday on which a Pradosh falls gives it its name and its emphasis. Som Pradosh — a Pradosh on a Monday, Shiva's own day — is doubly auspicious and is kept for the fulfilment of wishes and for marital happiness. Bhaum Pradosh — a Pradosh on a Tuesday (Bhaum being Mangal, Mars) — is held especially auspicious for good health, freedom from debt, and relief from the difficulties caused by an afflicted Mars. In Sawan 2026 the devotee is fortunate to receive one of each.
Find your city's Pradosh Kaal
These timings are for New Delhi. Pradosh Kaal shifts with your local sunset — use our live tools for your city's exact sunset, tithi and evening muhurat.
Frequently asked questions
Sawan Pradosh Vrat 2026 dates and Pradosh Kaal