Festival guide 2025
Sawan Somwar
Every Monday of Shravan is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and in Kashi — his own city — the Sawan Somwar fast draws the year's largest darshan queues at Kashi Vishwanath. Devotees fast through the day, offer Gangajal, bel patra and milk on the Shivling, and break the fast after evening puja.
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Central timing
Somwar Vrat Puja Muhurat
Festival length
Single-day observance
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Observed on
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Somwar Vrat Puja Muhurat
Festival length
Single-day observance
Festival Significance
Why this observance stays alive in memory
Every Monday of Shravan is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and in Kashi — his own city — the Sawan Somwar fast draws the year's largest darshan queues at Kashi Vishwanath. Devotees fast through the day, offer Gangajal, bel patra and milk on the Shivling, and break the fast after evening puja.
Ritual path
Rituals
Bathe before sunrise, ideally in the Ganga. Offer Gangajal, milk, bel patra, dhatura and white flowers on the Shivling. Chant Om Namah Shivaya or the Mahamrityunjaya mantra. Eat one satvik meal after evening aarti.
Discipline
Fasting
A day-long fast broken after evening puja. Many keep a nirjala (waterless) fast on the first Somwar only; fruit and milk are permitted otherwise.
In Varanasi
Where the city adds its own colour
Queues at Kashi Vishwanath begin forming well before Mangala Aarti and stretch through the Godowlia approach all day. Reach the corridor before dawn, carry minimal belongings, and expect phone deposit at the gate. Neighbouring Shiva temples — Mrityunjay Mahadev, Tilbhandeshwar and Kedareshwar — are far calmer for a Somwar darshan.