Devotees across the country look forward to Sawan every year, but this time there was genuine confusion over the month's exact starting date. Depending on how the lunar calendar was read, both July 29 and July 30 appeared to be contenders, leaving many unsure which day marks the true beginning of this month dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Through Sawan, devotees observe a fast on Mondays, kanwariyas set out on foot carrying holy water from the Ganga, and cities such as Ujjain, Kashi, Devghar and Haridwar see massive crowds of pilgrims, with chants of Bol Bum and Har Har Mahadev echoing everywhere.
The Exact Start Date of Sawan 2026
According to the Hindu calendar, the Pratipada tithi of the Krishna Paksha of the Shravan month begins at 8:05 pm on July 29 and continues until 9:30 pm on July 30. Under Hindu tradition, any month or festival is dated according to the udaya tithi, meaning whichever date is in effect at sunrise decides which day the month or festival is counted from. Going by this rule, Sawan 2026 will officially begin on July 30 rather than July 29, and that is exactly why there was uncertainty among devotees over the starting date. Once the month begins, special worship of Lord Shiva will continue for a full month, concluding on August 28 with Shravan Purnima. In a coincidence, August 28 is also the day Raksha Bandhan, the festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, will be celebrated, meaning the end of Sawan and Raksha Bandhan fall on the very same date.
Sawan Monday Vrat Dates for 2026
Monday holds special significance during Sawan because the day itself is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This makes any Monday that falls within Sawan even more important from a religious standpoint. On these days, Shiva temples across the country witness huge crowds of devotees queuing up to offer jalabhishek on the Shivling. According to religious belief, devotees who observe the Sawan Monday fast with devotion see their wishes fulfilled quickly. This year, Sawan will have a total of 4 Mondays. The first Sawan Monday falls on August 3, 2026, the second on August 10, 2026, the third on August 17, 2026, and the fourth and final one on August 24, 2026.
The Significance of Mangala Gauri Vrat
Sawan is not limited to the Monday fast alone. Every Tuesday during this month, devotees also observe the Mangala Gauri vrat dedicated to Goddess Parvati. This fast is considered especially important for maintaining harmony in married life and for the wish of having children, meaning that while Monday is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Tuesday during Sawan is set aside for the worship of Goddess Parvati.
Kanwar Yatra 2026 Date
The same day Sawan begins, July 30, 2026, will also mark the start of the Kanwar Yatra across the country. Kanwariyas, devotees of Lord Shiva, carry Ganga water on foot and travel to major Shiva temples such as Devghar, Neelkanth and Kashi Vishwanath to perform jalabhishek on the Shivling. In Delhi-NCR, the yatra will run from July 30 until Masik Shivratri on August 11, 2026. The Shivratri that falls during Sawan carries special religious importance, since it is on this day that kanwariyas offer jalabhishek with the sacred Ganga water they have carried from Haridwar and other pilgrimage sites. In Devghar, however, the Kanwar Yatra is not confined to a single day; it continues throughout the entire month of Sawan. During this period, religious cities such as Ujjain, Kashi, Haridwar and Devghar see enormous crowds of devotees and kanwariyas, with chants of Bol Bum and Har Har Mahadev resonating everywhere.
