In the Midst of Shraavan: The Month of Festivals

In the Vedic calendar, when the Sun enters the House of Leo (approximately mid-July to mid-August), it is the month-long festival of Shraavan. It is a time that is celebrated in song, theater and cinema. There are street festivals, special pujas and family gatherings. By some calendars Shraavan is calculated from Full Moon to Full Moon, in others, it is New Moon to New Moon. There are many holidays during this time, depending on local customs and traditions.

The whole month is dedicated to Lord Shiva and many days within the month are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There are auspicious days for fasting. It is the marriage season and on the dry plains of India it is the monsoon season. In agricultural areas farmers honor livestock and the land. Here are some of the holidays:

- Shravan Somar:  Mondays, wives fast for their family’s well-being and pray to Lord Shiva

- Mangal Gauri: Tuesdays, wives fast and pray to Goddess Parvati

- Karnika Ekadashi: August 10, Day of Vishnu’s Blessing

- Hariyali Teej: August 17, Day of Parvati, Shiva’s wife

- Nag Panchami:  August 19, married women offer milk to snakes to bless their brothers and sisters

- Putrada Ekadashi:  August 25, Day of Vishnu’s Blessing

- Varalakshmi Vratram:  August 28, Day of Lakshmi’s Blessings

- Raksha Bandha:  August 29, Day to celebrate love between brothers and sisters

*Timings are for the United States, 2015.

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Here is a poem celebrating this festival month:

Shraavan

Holiest month, time of festival, spectacle and worship,

Star Shraavan rules the skies.

Winds shift and clouds gather over parched plains.

Relief is on its way, the rain is coming,

Monsoon.

And the temples are ready to celebrate

Music, food and family.

Honoring New Moon, Full Moon, poets, God of the Sea,

Krishna, Shiva, brother and sister, snakes, cows and bullocks,

Marital happiness, Lakshmi, fasting, feasting,

Pomp, fun and solemnity.

All month long, Sunrise to Sunrise,

The world is dancing and singing.

                                                           -Nafeeah Kim

Holidays and celebrations are a time to share love and build community, foster cultural pride and delight the senses. Honoring special days is enriching, creates beautiful memories and sanctifies life!

How will you celebrate?  


Further reading: 
Click here for another article about Shraavan
Click here for a website with lots of specific info on holiday times and meaning.