Mondays or Somvar, in the month of Shravan (July – August) is considered highly auspicious for praying to Lord Shiva.
It is believed that the worship of Shiva during Shrawan month is 108 times more powerful than worshipping during normal days. Millions of devout Hindus observe the Shravan Somwar Vrat – fasting and performing Pujas on Mondays in Sawan Month.
Shravan Month in 2010 is from July 27 to August 24. This calendar is followed mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar and Chhattisgarh and other North Indian states.
The Mondays in the month are on August 2, August 9, August 16 and August 23.
Shravan month is one of the holiest months in traditional North Indian Hindu calendar and is dedicated to the worship of Shiva. Sawan Mahina Somvar Vrat, or Shrawan Somavara Upvaas, is observed on Mondays. Fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset on all Mondays in the month.
Here is a brief procedure to observe Sawan Somvar Vrat
After the morning bath and other purification rituals.
•Lord Ganesha is first prayed to.
•Next, Lord Shiva is prayed to by chanting Om Namah Shivaya.
•The offerings that are made are Bilva leaves, white flowers, water, honey and milk.
•Those who observe fast on Mondays in some regions wear only white clothes.
•Those observe partial fast eat fruits.
•Some devotees read the Shiva Purana on the day.
•Those people who live along the banks of Ganga use water from Ganga to perform abhishek on the Shivling.
•The fast is broken in the evening after praying to Lord Shiva. Some devotees visit a Shiva Shrine during the period.
Some devotees opt for a 24-hour fast and they break the fast on the next day morning.
It is believed that those who observe Somwar vrat will have their desires fulfilled and will be blessed with wisdom.
Married women observe Sawan Mahina Somvar Vrat for a happy and long married life.
Unmarried women observe Shrawan Somavara Upvaas for getting good husbands.
Men observe the Vrata for a happy and peaceful life.
You can eat kuttu ki roti one time and vegetable's made with rock salt. Rest of the day you can have milk and fruits.
When you read the Vrat katha you will read the vidhi and it mentions you can eat "ann"(rice,wheat, pulses) once a day that's "satvik kind" meaning without garlic and Onion and meats.
Recipe of kuttu paratha:
Ingredients : 2 Cups Kuttu Atta, 1 tsp Rock salt , 2 Potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed , Dry flour for dusting , Ghee for frying
Method :
•Combine together the kuttu atta, potatoes and salt.• Add sufficient water and make flexible dough. Knead well.• Cover it and set aside for about half an hour.
• Divide the dough into eight pieces and shape them into round balls using dry flour.•Roll out these balls into chapatti.
•Heat a griddle(tava).Reduce the flame to medium.•Put one paratha on the tava and pour ghee in the form of trail along the outer edges of the paratha.•Flip when the underside is cooked. Apply the ghee on exposed surface.•Again flip and cook on the other side.•Remove when well done on both sides.
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