First Monday of Sawan 2020: Significance, calendar for Somvar vrats & more

The month of Sawan marks the start of the monsoon season in India. This year the month of Sawan or Shravan is starting on 6th July 2020 and the month will conclude on 3rd August. The end of Sawan will be celebrated with Rakshabandhan. 

Today, entire India is celebrating the first 'Somvar' of Sawan month. The month is marked by complete devotion to Lord Shiva and observing fasts, especially on Mondays, which are dedicated to Lord Shiva and are known as ‘Shravan or Sawan Somvar Vrat’. Some even, observe fasts on Tuesdays, which was known as ‘Mangala Gauri Vrat’.

Dates of all Sawan Somwar 2020

There will be five Mondays falling in the month of Sawan. This year the Somvar vrats will be kept on 6th July, 13 July, 20th July, 27th July & 3rd August. The end of Sawan will be celebrated with Rakshabandhan. 

 Due to the coronavirus outbreak, there are fewer festivities in temples. Take a look at how India is celebrating the auspicious vrat amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Varanasi: Devotees gather at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the first Monday of 'sawan' month. pic.twitter.com/hIFi1obhEJ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 6, 2020

Delhi: Devotees offer prayers at Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk on the first Monday of 'sawan' month. Temperature of devotees is also being checked with thermometer gun, as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of #Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/YCQY3klqY9

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2020

Delhi: Prayers being offered at Bankhandi Mahadev Temple in Chandni Chowk on the first Monday of 'sawan' month. pic.twitter.com/6uq7IbuomB

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2020

Significance of Somvar vrat

According to the legends mentioned in Hindu Vedas and Puranas, the holy month of Sawan is dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva for success, marriage, and prosperity.

It is believed that if you keep fast on Monday, Lord Shiva blesses you with health, wealth and prosperity. Anyone who is looking for the right partner for marriage is suggested to keep this fast.   

According to Puranas, fasting devotees should observe abstinence. Follow the rules of Brahmacharya for the duration of Shravan. Upon failing to do so, they will be sent to hell and their next incarnation will be as animals.

Many Hindu festivals fall like Krishna Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Naag Panchami, and Teej, fall in the month of Sawan. 

Reciting Shiv Chalisa throughout Sawan month is highly beneficial. Click here for Shiv Chalisa which you can recite every morning post-bath. While reciting it, please sure you sit in East direction and light a Diya with ghee.

Astrologers and pundits suggest a few things the people who are fasting during this month should avoid at all costs.

Let's take a look at 7 such things devotees need to be careful about - 

1. Avoid drinking alcohol and eating non-vegetarian food in this holy month.

2. Brinjal or eggplant too must be avoided. According to Puranas, the vegetable is considered 'Ashuddha' (impure). Therefore a lot of people avoid eating it on Ekadashi, Chaturdashi, and in the month of Kartik.

3. Though you can do the Abhishek of a Shivlinga with milk, fasting devotees need to avoid drinking milk

4. Shivpujan or Abhishek should be done as early as possible in the morning

5. Do not use turmeric to do the Abhishek

6. Please keep your house, surroundings clean

7. According to Puranas, fasting devotees should observe abstinence. Follow the rules of Brahmacharya for the duration of Shravan. Upon failing to do so, they will be sent to hell and their next incarnation will be as animals.