What is the difference between Sawan Shivratri and Mahashivratri?

Maha Shivaratri is the one in Phalguna, February or March, and is the biggest of the year. Sawan Shivratri is the Shravana one, in July or August, and it's the day the Kanwar pilgrims arrive to pour Ganga water on the linga. There's actually a Shivaratri every month, the Krishna Chaturdashi, but these two are the ones that matter.

Sawan Shivaratri

सावन शिवरात्रि · શ્રાવણ શિવરાત્રી

Next date

No upcoming date in 2026–2027 for Mumbai.

About

The Shivaratri of Shravana month, one of the most sacred Shivaratris. Falls in the holy month of Sawan (Shravana) dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees fast, visit Shiva temples, and offer Bel Patra and milk.

Falls on: Shravana Krishna Chaturdashi, July or August.
Also called: Shravan Shivratri, Sawan Shivratri, Masik Shivaratri of Shravana

The story

Every Krishna Chaturdashi is a Masik Shivaratri, but the Shravana one carries special weight because Shravana is Shiva's month and because the samudra manthan, when Shiva drank the halahala, is placed in it.

How it is observed

The peak of the Kanwar Yatra: millions walk to the Ganga, mostly at Haridwar, Gaumukh or Sultanganj, fill pots, and carry the water on foot to a Shiva temple to pour over the linga on this day. Barefoot, and the pots must not touch the ground.

Food

Fasting; falahar. Bel patra and milk offered to the linga.

Regional variation

The Kanwar Yatra is a North Indian phenomenon, UP, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar and Jharkhand, and has grown enormously in recent decades. Elsewhere Shravan Somvars carry more weight than this specific night.

Common questions

What is the difference between Sawan Shivratri and Mahashivratri?: Maha Shivaratri is the one in Phalguna, February or March, and is the biggest of the year. Sawan Shivratri is the Shravana one, in July or August, and it's the day the Kanwar pilgrims arrive to pour Ganga water on the linga. There's actually a Shivaratri every month, the Krishna Chaturdashi, but these two are the ones that matter.

No dates fall in 2026–2027 for Mumbai.