Shravan 2026: Why Sawan Dates Differ in Maharashtra and North India

Every year, millions of Hindu devotees across India observe the holy month of Shravan (also known as Sawan), dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. However, the exact dates for the start and end of this auspicious month differ by roughly two weeks between northern states and western/southern states like Maharashtra. This discrepancy is not a matter of local disagreement, but rather the result of two distinct traditional lunar calendar systems that have been followed for centuries across different regions of India.

The Core Difference: Purnimanta vs. Amanta Systems

The divergence in Shravan dates stems from how a lunar month is calculated in different parts of the country. India primarily uses two lunar calendar reckoning methods: the Purnimanta system and the Amanta system.

In North India, including states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, the Purnimanta calendar is followed. In this system, a lunar month begins immediately after the full moon (Purnima) and ends on the next full moon.

Conversely, in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, the Amanta calendar is used. Under the Amanta system, a lunar month begins on the day following the new moon (Amavasya) and ends on the next new moon. Guru Purnima 2026: Date, Shubh Muhurat, History and Why We Celebrate Maharishi Ved Vyasa.

Why Maharashtra Starts Shravan Two Weeks Later

Because of these two calculation methods, North India enters the month of Shravan about 15 days earlier than Maharashtra.

In the North, Shravan officially begins the day after Ashadha Purnima (commonly observed as Guru Purnima). In Maharashtra, however, the month of Ashadha continues for another fortnight until Ashadha Amavasya (often marked in Maharashtra as Deep Amavasya or Gatari Amavasya).

Only after the Ashadha new moon concludes does the month of Shravan officially begin in Maharashtra. Consequently, while North Indian devotees are already midway through their Shravan observances and fasts, households in Maharashtra are usually just preparing to begin theirs.

Impact on Rituals and Festivals

While the dates on the Gregorian calendar differ, the religious significance and core rituals remain identical. The key difference lies in which specific calendar dates mark the auspicious days of the month:

• Shravan Somvar (Mondays): Fasting on Mondays is a central tradition of Shravan. Because of the two-week shift, the four or five Mondays observed in North India do not align with the Mondays observed in Maharashtra.
• Regional Customs: In North India, the onset of Sawan marks the start of the famous Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage. In Maharashtra, Shravan brings unique regional traditions such as Mangalagaur - special Puja and cultural gatherings performed by newly married women on Tuesdays (Shravani Mangalagavri).
• Festivals: Major festivals falling within the month, such as Nag Panchami and Narali Purnima (or Raksha Bandhan), are celebrated on the same astronomical lunar days nationwide, but they fall at different relative positions within the respective regional calendars.

Shared Devotion Across Different Calendars

Despite the two-week gap in start dates, both calendar systems are astronomically synced with the moon's phases. The astronomical positioning of the lunar cycle ensures that the spiritual period dedicated to austerity, vegetarianism, and Shiva worship covers the exact same seasonal window, retaining its religious uniformity across the Indian subcontinent.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 28, 2026 12:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).