In Hinduism Shravan or Sawan Month is the most auspicious month all around the year. According to Hindu calendar, Sawan is the fifth month that falls between July and August.
Every Monday of Shravan Month is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his devotees observe a fast for 16 mondays and seek the blessings of lord Shiva and these fasts on sixteen Mondays are known as ‘Sawan Somawar Vrat’.
While Mondays are dedicated to Lord Shiva, all Tuesdays are for Goddess Parvati and many devotees observe fast on Tuesdays as well and this fast is known as ‘Mangal Gauri Vrat’.
Apart from Sawan Somvar Vrat and Mangal Gauri Vrat, Haryali Amavasya and Sawan Shivratri are also one of the auspicious days of Shravan Month.
Important Dates of Shravan Month
In the year 2022 the Shrawan Month will start from 14th July and will end on 12th August. There will be 4 mondays in this month and the first Monday will fall on 18th July.
Sawan Somwar 2022 Dates
The first Monday of this auspicious month, falls on 18th of July, the next day observed as Mangla Gauri Fast.
1st Somvar of Shravan month– 18th July
1st Mangla Gauri Fast– 19th July
2nd Somvar of Shravan month– 25th July
2nd Mangla Gauri Fast– 26th July
3rd Somvar of Shravan month– 1st August
3rd Mangla Gauri Fast– 2nd August
4th Somvar of Sharvan month– 8th August
4th Mangla Gauri Fast– 9th August
Last Somvar of Shravan month– 12th August
5th and last Mangla Gauri Fast– 13th August
Ekadashi– 24th July
Haryali Teej– 31st July.
Nag Panchami– 2nd August.
Raksha Bandhan– 11th August
History and Signifiacne of Shravan Month
According to Hindu Scriptures Lord Shiva consumed the venom which emerged during the Samudra Manthan and it is believed that Goddess Parvati held Lord Shiva’s neck so that the poison dosen’t enter his body and the poison remmained in his neck.
And it is also believed that when Lord Shiva Consumed the venom his neck and throat was burning and it turned blue so to heal his wound and to relieve his pain his devotees offer water of Holy Ganga.
So, to show gratitude to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and to seek their blessings, the devotees observe fast in the month of Sharvan.
What is Kanwar Yatra?
Every year in the auspicious month of Shrawan the devotees of Lord Shiva participate in a holy expedition called “Kanwar Yatra”.
A Kanwariya (a person who participates in kanwar yatra) carries Kanwars (pots) across his shoulders and begins his yatra to collect the holy water of River Ganga.
The Kanwariyas start their journey from the auspicious places like Gangotri, Gaumukh, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kashi, etc. to offer water to lord Shiva.
The Kanwariyas observe fast while carrying the Kanwars and they do not consume food grain or drink water while they are carrying the Kanwars.
The Kanwariyas walk barefoot and it is believed that once the pots are filled with water it should not touch the ground .
This year the Kanvar yatra will start from 14th July and because of Covid last year Uttarakhand cancelled the kanwar yatra but this year Uttarakhand is all set to welcome the devotees but they have to follow all the protocols.
