Sawan (Shravan) is considered the most sacred month for worshipping Lord Shiva. Its dates differ across India depending on which calendar system your region follows. If you’ve ever wondered why your UP relatives are already fasting while your Gujarati friends haven’t started yet, this is why.
North India (Purnimanta calendar)
In 2026, Sawan runs from July 30 to August 28 in North India. The Monday fasting dates during this period:
- August 3 (first Monday)
- August 10 (second Monday)
- August 17 (third Monday, also Nag Panchami)
- August 24 (fourth Monday)
South and West India (Amanta calendar)
Under the Amanta calendar followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and South India, Shravan month runs from August 13 to September 11. The Monday fasting dates on this reckoning:
- August 17, 24, 31
- September 7
Notice that August 17 and August 24 fall in both calendars’ Sawan, so those two Mondays are observed by practically everyone regardless of region.
Why the two calendars differ
The Purnimanta calendar counts a month from full moon to full moon, while the Amanta calendar counts from new moon to new moon. That is why the same lunar cycle carries a different month name depending on the region. Both are tracking the same Moon; they just draw the month boundaries at different points. Neither is “wrong.” It’s a bit like how a financial year can start in April (India) or January (US): same 12 months, different start line.
Somwar Vrat: what the fast involves
The Sawan Monday fast (Somwar Vrat) is one of the most widely kept fasts across India. Devotees eat one meal before sunrise, then fast until sunset, consuming only fruits, milk, and water during the day. Some families observe a stricter nirjala (waterless) version, though that’s less common for weekly fasts. The evening puja to Shiva typically includes offering bel patra (wood apple leaves), milk, and water on a Shivling, followed by lighting a diya and chanting Om Namah Shivaya.
For families abroad, the fast follows the same rules. Your local sunrise and sunset times determine the fasting window. A Somwar Vrat in London with its late summer sunset (past 8:30 PM in August) makes for a longer fasting day than one in Mumbai.
Other important days during Sawan
Sawan isn’t just about Mondays. Nag Panchami falls within the month (August 17 in 2026, see our Nag Panchami puja guide), and many families also observe Hariyali Teej and Mangala Gauri Vrat on Tuesdays. The whole month is considered especially powerful for Shiva worship, and many devotees visit Jyotirlinga temples during this period.
Sawan for families abroad
If you’re living outside India, the lunar calendar doesn’t change. Sawan’s boundaries are the same lunar dates regardless of where you are, so the Monday dates listed above apply everywhere. What does change is the practical experience: finding bel patra for the Shiva puja can be difficult in most Western countries. Some families order dried bel patra online, while others use what’s locally available and focus on the devotion rather than specific leaves. Many Hindu temples in the US and UK hold special Sawan Monday evening pujas and abhishekam that are worth attending.
Check your own dates
For the dates that apply to your region, check the panchang page.