Shravan month is the second month in Chaturmas, four holy months. Shravan month is considered as most auspicious month for the Hindus in Goa and Konkan regions. People follow all the rules or codes of Shravan month and observe Shravan maas Vrata with utmost devotion. In 2009, in Goa and Konkan regions Shravan month starts from July 23, Thursday and ends on August 20, Thursday.

Festivals during Shravan Month:

 In Goa and Konkan regions, during Shravan month, Hindus celebrate Naga Panchami, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Narali Pournami and Rakhi Festival.

Shravan Masa Pujas – Vratas during Shravan Month:

 Shravan Somvar, Mondays during Shravan month, are dedicated to Lord Shiva. On Mondays in Shravan, Goa and Konkan Brahmins observe ‘Shiva Muth’. Shravan Mangalvar, Tuesdays during Shravan month, are dedicated to Goddess Gauri. On Tuesdays in Shravan, Mangala Gauri Vrata is observed. Shravan Guruvar, Thursdays during Shravan month, are dedicated to Lord Dattatreya. Dattatreya is worshipped during Shravan Guruvar.

Shravan Shukravar, Fridays during Shravan month, are dedicated to Goddess Laxmi. Vara Laxmi Puja or Shravan Shukravar Puja is observed during Shravan Shukravar. Shravan Shanivar, Saturdays during Shravan month, are dedicated Shani Bhagawan or Lord Venkateshwara.

Shravan month in 2009 begins on July 22, Wednesday as per reputed Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka panchangs and ends on August 20, Thursday. Telugu and Kannada people observe Shravan Masa Vratam during the month. Various Vratas dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Goddess Laxmi and Lord Shiva are observed during the month in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

In 2009, as per Telugu and Kannada calendars, Shravan Shukla Paksha begins on July 22 and ends on August 6, Thursday, on the Shravan Purnima day. Shravana Krishna Paksha starts on August 7, Friday and ends on August 20, Thursday, on the Shravan Amavasya day.

During the Shravana masam, Hindu communities in Telugu and Kannada regions observe Varalakshmi Vratam, Shravana Mangala Gauri Vratam and Shravan Somvar Vrata. In 2009, the date of Vara Laxmi Vratam is July 31, Friday. Mangala Gauri Vratam is observed on Mangalvar (Tuesdays) during Shravan masam. Shravan Somvar Vrata is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

In Shravan month, Nagula Panchami or Nag Panchami, Rakhi Purnima Festival or Raksha Bandhan and Sri Krishna Janmashtami are other popular festivals celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

On the first Friday during Shravan month, Telugu and Kannada people observe Sampada Gauri Vratham. Sampada Gouri Vratha is different from Vara Laxmi Vratha. 

As the Shravan maas vrat is the most auspicious vrata to observe. Shravan maas is the best time to worship, praise, please Lord Vishnu and as well as Lord Shiva. Pujas and other procedures of pleasing God in Shravan month work better than any other month. To observe the Shravan maas vrat, there is no hard and fast rule or code to follow. But there are some niyama or rules that followed by most of the devotees during the vratam.

Rituals and Customs during Shravan month or Shravana masa Vrata Niayama – Rules and Codes of Shravan Masa Vratam:

• Follow Eka Bhukta Bhojan (Taking meal for single time in a day) or Naktha Vratam (keeping fast during day time and taking Prasad or fruits or light meal at night). Eka Bhukta Bhojan or Nakhta Vratam is highly meritorious.
• Performing special pujas to please Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva is fruitful. Performing Abhishek to Lord Vishnu and Shiva is most fruitful during Shravana masam.
• Avoid taking non-vegetarian food.
• Observe maun-vrat if possible. Chant stotras of Vishnu and Shiva all the time.
• Observe Sawan Somvar Vrat or Shravan Somvar Vrata during Mondays in Shravan month. Worship Lord Shiva and observe fasting during Shrvan Somvar Vratam.
• Observe Shravan Mangalvar vrat or Sawan Mangalvar Vrata during Tuesdays in Shravan month. Worship Goddess Gauri or Parvati during Shravan Mangalvar Vratam.
• Observe Sawan Sukravar Vrat or Shravana Shukravara Vratam (Vara Lakshmi Vratam) during Fridays in Shravan month. Worship Goddess Lakshmi or Vara Laxmi during Shravan Shukravar Vratam.

Sawan month or Shravan maas is the fifth Hindu month. As per the Hindu scriptures and Vedas, Shravan maas is considered as highly auspicious month. In Vedas, Sawan month is described as ‘Nabhas’. Shravan Purnima (the full moon day in Shravana masam) coincides with with the Nakshatra (birth star) of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, Shravana nakshatra, hence the whole month is called as Shravana masam. This is the main reason why Sravan month is considered as important, significant and auspicious.

Sharavan Mangalvar, Shravan Shukravar and Sawan Sanivar – Three Most Auspicious days in Sravan Month:

Among the seven days in a week, Somvar (Monday) is auspicious in Kartik month; Guruvar (Thursday) is auspicious in Margashirh month and Sunday in Magh maas. But in Shravan month three days in a week are most auspicious – Shravana Mangalvar (Tuesdays in Shravan month), Shravana Shukravar (Fridays in Shravan month) and Shravana Shanivar (Saturdays in Shravan month).

On Tuesdays in Shravan month, newly married brides observe Mangala Gauri Vrata which is performed to get rid of bad omens. On Fridays in Shravan month, married women observe Shravana Shukravar Vrat (Varalakshmi Vratam). On Saturdays in Shravan month, devotees worship Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, particularly Lord Venkatesha (Lord Balaji).

Sawan maas is highly fruitful for good deeds. According to Puranas, performing Grihpravesh in this month is very significant and greatly forecasted. Hindu Astrology tells that the natives who born in Shravan maas are highly honored by the world. Hence Lord Jagannath, Sri Krishna, who was born in Sawan maas, is worshipped and honored by the world. Not only Sri Krishna, but Lord Hayagriva, who was born on Shravan Poornima, and Vaikhanasa Aagama Pravaktha, Vaikhanas Maharshi are also greatly worshipped.

Purnima (full moon day) in this month (Shravan Pournami) is very significant and important. Sharavan Purnima is celebrated as Jandhyala Pournami. On this day, dwijas (who can able to observe Upanayana punaskar) perform Upakarma. Vedas described that this Upakarma helps them in maintaining their spiritual, psychological and physical health. Sawan Purnima is also celebrated as Raksha bandhan (Rakhi festival). Rakhi festival is a great tradition of healthy relationship between brother and sister.

In Sawan month, Vishnu and Lakshmi aradhana (worshipping Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi) is highly meritorious.

Haryali Teej or Singhara Teej, also known as Teejan, is the festival of monsoon celebrated on the third day after Hariyali Amavasya (Shravan Shukla Tritiya), which falls during the month of Shravan (July – Aug). In 2009, Hariyali Teej is celebrated on July 24, Friday. Haryali Teej or Singhara Teej, the festival of monsoon, mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Haryali Teej or Teejan is an important festival celebrated in North India especially in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Haryali Teej or Singhara Teej – Rituals and Pujas:
On Haryali Teej or Singhara Teej, Goddess Parvati is worshipped. As a tradition, women wear green coloured dresses and green bangles to symbolize the lush greenery during the month of Saawan. On this day of Haryali Teej, women also worship the Moon God. Women gather to wish each other and adorn their hands with mehandi (henna) patterns.

On Hariyali Teej, women worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and sing songs associated with Shiva and Parvati Kalyan (Marriage of Shiva and Parvati). Hariyali Teej is the most auspicious amongst the three Teej festivals.