As the monsoon season blankets India, Hindus across the country celebrate the holy month of Sawan, a time revered for its spiritual significance and devotion to Lord Shiva. The month, which falls typically between July and August, marks a period of worship, fasting, and pilgrimage dedicated to the deity of destruction and transformation.
On the first Monday of Sawan, devotees flocked to temples in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Delhi, among other states, to offer prayers and seek blessings from Lord Shiva. In Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, devotees queued up at the temple of Lord Shiva. In Varanasi, devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga River. Prayers were also offered at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and at the Baba Nageshwar temple in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Devotees thronged the Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand, and offered prayers at the Gauri Shankar temple in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi.
Sawan holds a special place in Hindu mythology as the month when Lord Shiva is believed to have consumed the poison that emerged from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), saving the universe from its toxic effects. The cooling rains of Sawan are symbolic of Shiva’s compassion and benevolence. Devotees undertake fasting and offer prayers to seek his blessings during this period.
During Sawan, devotees typically observe fasts on Mondays, considered auspicious. Many choose to abstain from consuming grains and eat only fruits, milk, and specific foods permissible during fasting. The chanting of Shiva mantras, singing bhajans (devotional songs), and performing Rudrabhishek (a ceremonial bathing of Shiva Lingam with holy substances) are common practices observed with fervor across households and temples.
