Sawan — the month of Shravan — is the most sacred stretch of the Hindu calendar for devotees of Lord Shiva. Through these weeks of monsoon, temples fill with the sound of water poured over the Shivling, Mondays are kept as fasts, and a chain of festivals runs from Nag Panchami to Raksha Bandhan.
This hub gathers the whole month in one place: the exact 2026 dates (validated against Swiss-Ephemeris panchang), the Sawan Somwar and Mangala Gauri vrat days, every festival with its date, and links to the puja vidhi, mantras and rituals for each. Where North and South India observe different dates, both are given.
Sawan 2026 at a glance
Sawan begins
Thu, 30 July 2026
Sawan ends
Fri, 28 August 2026
Sawan Somwar
4 Mondays (North)
Sawan Shivratri
11 August (night)
Raksha Bandhan
28 August 2026
Tradition
Purnimanta · Amanta ≈13 Aug–11 Sep
When is Sawan 2026?
The exact Shravan month window — North and South
In North India, which follows the Purnimanta (full-moon-ending) calendar, Sawan 2026 begins on Thursday, 30 July and ends on the Shravan Purnima, Friday, 28 August. In Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and much of South India, the Amanta (new-moon-ending) calendar places Shravan roughly from 13 August to 11 September. Both traditions keep the same festivals; only the month's boundary differs, because the two systems name the waning fortnight of early August differently.
North vs. South
Sawan Somwar 2026 — the four Mondays
The days to keep the Monday fast for Shiva
1st Somwar
3 Aug
2nd Somwar
10 Aug
3rd Somwar
17 Aug
4th Somwar
24 Aug
Festivals of Sawan 2026
Every vrat and festival with its date — open any card for the muhurat and vidhi
Vrat, puja & rituals
How to observe Sawan, step by step
Why Sawan is sacred to Shiva
Samudra Manthan, Neelkanth and the meaning of jalabhishek
The Puranas trace Sawan's sanctity to the Samudra Manthan — the churning of the cosmic ocean. When the halahal poison rose and threatened all creation, Shiva drank it and held it in his throat, turning it blue; hence Neelkanth, "the blue-throated one." The Devas poured Ganga water over him to ease the burning heat. Offering water to the Shivling in Sawan — jalabhishek — re-enacts that act of cooling grace, which is why water, bilva leaves and a simple, sincere fast are held dearer to Shiva this month than any elaborate offering.
Plan your Sawan worship by the clock
The festival dates here are for New Delhi. For your city's exact sunrise, tithi and auspicious windows, use our live tools.
Frequently asked questions
Sawan 2026 dates, vrat and festivals