Ever feel like the monsoon season brings a special kind of calm and spirituality? For millions across India, it’s Sawan Month (also known as Shravan) that resonates similarly. Sawan, also known as Shravan, is the holiest month in the Hindu calendar for the devotees of Lord Shiva. It is believed that during this sacred period, Lord Shiva blesses his devotees generously, and those who worship him with devotion receive his blessings in the form of peace, prosperity, and protection. One can easily observe the entire month, devotees doing fasting and temple visits.
While thousands of Shiva temples across India perform special rituals during Sawan, some stand out for their unique customs and grand scale of celebration. These temples become centers of attraction with intense spiritual energy, attracting lakhs of pilgrims throughout the holy month who travel great distances to seek Mahadev’s blessings.
Most famous Shiva temples known for their distinctive Sawan month traditions:
1. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
Kashi Vishwanath Temple is among the famous 12 Jyotirlingas, becomes a focal point of holy devotion during Sawan. The city of Varanasi, also known as India’s spiritual capital, transforms into a spiritual heaven, with lakhs of Kanwariyas (devotees of Shiva) arriving barefoot with religious beliefs, carrying Ganga jal from Haridwar to offer at the temple.
Every Monday of Sawan (known as Sawan Somvar), it is a common sight with long queues of devotees waiting patiently to perform JalAbhishek on the Shivalinga with milk, water, honey, and bael leaves. The entire city echoes with the chants of “Om Namah Shivaya” and “Bol Bam.”
Kanwar Yatra, where devotees walk over 100 kilometers to offer Ganga water to Lord Shiva, a gesture of extreme devotion, is a unique tradition to witness.
2. Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar (Jharkhand)
Another Jyotirlinga, the Baidyanath Dham temple witnesses one of the longest and largest religious processions during the Sawan month. Devotees collect holy water from the Sultanganj Ganga Ghat and travel over 100 kilometers on foot to Deoghar to offer it to Baba Baidyanath.
This pilgrimage is known as the Shravani Mela, and it lasts for the entire month of Sawan. What makes this temple unique is the nonstop flow of pilgrims—day and night—offering water to Lord Shiva without a break. The temple remains open throughout the day and night during this period.
3. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
At the Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the most powerful Jyotirlingas, the Bhasma Aarti becomes a major attraction during the Sawan month. Every morning before sunrise, the deity is worshipped with sacred ash (bhasma), which is believed to represent the cycle of life and death.
During Sawan, the crowd swells, and people line up from the previous night just to get a glimpse of this divine ritual. The temple also organises various cultural programs, spiritual discourses, and Shiv Tandav recitals, making Sawan a grand spiritual celebration in Ujjain.
4. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh (Uttarakhand)
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, located in the hills near Rishikesh, is believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva consumed poison during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), which turned his throat blue (Neelkanth).
During the auspicious Sawan month, thousands of Kanwariyas visit this temple, trekking through the forests to reach the temple and offer holy Ganga water. The scenic route and deep mythological connection make the Sawan Mondays here exceptionally spiritual.
5. Tungnath Temple, Uttarakhand – The Highest Shiva Temple
The Tungnath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is a part of the Panch Kedar, is the highest Shiva temple in the world, located at an altitude of 3,680 meters. It open only for a few months every year, Sawan becomes a special time when pilgrims trek through the Himalayan terrain to reach this shrine.
The temple’s peaceful ambience, along with traditional Pahadi rituals and chants, gives a truly divine Himalayan experience. The offering of fresh mountain herbs and wildflowers to Lord Shiva here is a tradition unique to this region.
6. Tarakeshwar Temple, West Bengal
In the Hooghly district, the Tarakeshwar Temple becomes a centre of devotion during Sawan, especially among Bengali Shiva devotees. The month is marked by the Bol Bom pilgrimage, where devotees chant “Bol Bam” while walking from Kolkata and other nearby cities to reach the temple.
The unique tradition here is the strict Satvik fasting followed by women devotees who pray for marital bliss and family well-being during Sawan Mondays.
The month of Sawan is a time of deep devotion, self-discipline, and divine connection with Lord Shiva. From the bustling ghats of Varanasi to the silent peaks of Tungnath, each Shiva temple adds a unique flavour to this sacred month. These diverse traditions are not just religious practices but a testament to the living cultural and spiritual heritage of India.
Visiting these Shiva temples during Sawan is an experience that promises inner peace, divine blessings, and unforgettable memories for the rest of your life.
