Sawan 2023 First Monday: The month of Shravan or Sawan is the fifth month in the Hindu calendar and holds high religious and spiritual significance among the followers of Hinduism not just in India but across the world. Celebrated on every Monday during the month of Sawan, devotees keep fast and worship Lord Shiva, the God of destruction and part of the trinity of Hindu Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. This year the month of Sawan will last for 59 days, an event happening after a gap of 19 years, resulting in eight Sawan Mondays instead of the usual four in a month.

Sawan 2023 First Monday: Date

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Today is the first Monday of the month of Sawan in 2023 although the month began on July 4, which was Tuesday. It will end on August 31. This year Sawan month holds more significance as after 19 years of gap, Shrawan (Sawan) will last for a couple of months (59 days) and eight Sawan Mondays will be observed this year instead of four. This is because the Hindi Panchang's Nal Samvatsar 2080 is going on, which will be for 13 months. In Hindi Panchang, Adhik Maas (extra month) comes once in a every three years.

“Adhik Mas is the extra lunar month. In the Hindu calendar, it has 29.5 days in a month. A month is added to the lunar calendar, which is called the ‘Adhik’ mass or a means extra. It is also known as the Malmas or the Purusthotam mas,” news agency ANI quoted astrologer Rakhie Mishra as saying. In this month the sun doesn't change the zodiac sign, the agency added Mishra as saying.

After 19 years, the sum of Adhik Maas is being formed in Sawan. Earlier, it happened in 2004 when there were more months of Sawan.

Sawan Somwar 2023: Significance

Sawan month is considered to be the most auspicious month among Hindus. Due to the crescent moon that Lord Shiva holds on his forehead, he is referred to as Somnath or Someshwara. Soma signifies Chandra while Somwar refers to the Moon. According to Hindu religious texts, Lord Shiva visited his in-laws during the Shravana month and settled there with Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva once assured Prajapati Daksha that he would visit and stay at his location during the month of Shravana. For this reason, many devotees make pilgrimages to the Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand during the Shravana month to worship Lord Shiva.

Sawan Somwar 2023: Puja Vidhi

On the first Monday of this auspicious month, followers of Lord Shiva keep fasts, and they only consume fruits, water, dried fruits, and sabudana. They offer Lord Shiva Bilva/Bel leaves and Panchamrut, a concoction comprising milk, yoghurt, ghee, Ganga Jal, and honey. Additionally, the worshippers recite Shravan Somwar Vrata Katha on Monday and wear rudraksha mala.

Sawan Somwar: Mantra

Devotees of Lord Shiva chant Om Namah Shivay and Mahamrityunjaya Mantra during Sawan Somwar puja.