Shravana Somavara - Prathama 2026 Date

About Shravana Somavara - Prathama

The first Monday of Shravana — Prathama Somavara — traditionally opens the Solah Somwar vow: sixteen straight Monday fasts begun on this day to seek a spouse or marital welfare. In North India it also launches the Kanwar Yatra, when devotees walk home with Ganga water to bathe a Shiva linga.

The month's pull on Shiva worship is explained in the Skanda Purana, where the Shravana Mahatmya is told as a dialogue between Shiva and Sanatkumara, Brahma's son. The classic reason given is the Samudra Manthan — Shiva drank the halahala poison this month, turning his throat blue, and milk and Ganga water are poured over the linga to cool him. On the first Monday the abhisheka is done with the Sri Rudram (Namakam–Chamakam) and bilva leaves. In many temples a Dharanatra — a clay pot pierced with a small hole — is hung above the linga so water drips on it through the whole month. Dates split by region: states on the Amanta calendar (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana) start Shravana about a fortnight after the North.