Shraavana Facts & Worksheets

The fifth month of the Hindu calendar is called Shraavana or Sawan. It is considered as a holy month in the Hindu calendar and several festivals are celebrated.

See the fact file below for more information on Shraavana or alternatively, you can download our 28-page Shraavana worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Celebration

• In India’s national civil calendar, it is the fifth month of the Hindu year. 
• Shraavana begins in late July, the first day of the full moon, and ends on the third week of August, the same day of the next full moon. 
• The celebration is devoted to worship Lord Shiva. 

Key Notes on the Celebration

• It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva during the month of Shraavana compared to regular days is 108 times more powerful. 
• Fasting and worshipping during Shraavana are said to help with wealth and an increase in generation.
• During Shraavana, the monsoon season is believed to be at its peak. 
• The fourth Monday of Shraavana is said to be very auspicious.
• Shraavana Vrat is when people observe Vrat or fasting for the entire month.
• Shraavana Somvar Vrat is when people fast on Mondays only. 
• The followers of Shraavan month have their own beliefs when observing fasting. 
• People offer Bel Patra to Lord Shiva because of a belief that offering a Bel Patra during puja or ritual to Lord Shiva is the same as making any pilgrimage visit.
• Shraavana is also the month when Hindu festivals begin.
• It is believed that people who fast on Mondays and do charity on the same day are to get fruits equivalent to what they get when visiting Jyotirlinga, a shrine where they worship Lord Shiva.
• Married Hindu women wear red attire with green bangles and pray for their husband’s healthy and long life.

Common Festivals Celebrated

Krishna Janmashtami 

• A festival is also known as Janmashtami, Gokulashtami, or Krishnashtami. 
• It celebrates the birth of the god Krishna who is the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
• Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the dark fortnight which is referred to as Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada (a month in the Hindu calendar which is equivalent to August / September of the Gregorian calendar).

Raksha Bandhan

• Raksha Bandhan, which means “bond of safety,” is a popular Hindu ceremony that celebrates the prosperous brother-sister relationship.
• This festival is often observed on the full moon or Purnima. 
• During the festival, a sister ties a talisman or amulet called rakhi on her brother’s wrist as a symbol of her faithfulness and prayer for his long life. 
• The brother in return, promises to keep his sister safe and happy. 
• Even if it is celebrated all day, there is only a certain time where they can tie the rakhi. 

Nariyal Poornima

• This is a ceremonial day, celebrated on a full moon day or Poornima in the month of Shraavana.
• The festival is devoted to the Sea God, Varuna.
• For the fishermen, the sea is considered holy.
• Besides the devotees worshiping God Varuna, they also offer Nariyal or coconut to him.
• It is believed that with this, the fisherman will be protected from all kinds of incidents.
• Before the festival, fishermen prepare by repairing their old fishing nets, painting their old boats, purchasing new boats, or making fishing nets. 
• Some decorate their boats with colorful buntings or garlands. 
• They also offer rituals to the boats and plant trees to show respect and gratitude to nature. 

Naga Panchami

• This is the traditional worship day devoted to Nag Devta or snake god. 
• It is usually done on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month Shraavana. 
• This is an important festival for the believers of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. 
• The main ritual done during the festival is offering milk to the snake god. 
• It is believed that offerings made during this festival will save their families from any evil. 
• Houses on this day are also decorated with rangoli. 
• Some rituals done include fasting, feeding the poor, making snake idols at home with clay, and offering flowers and milk which are placed in snake holes. 

Avani Avittam

• Avani Avittam is also referred to as Upakramam which means beginning.
• It tells that the study of Vedas is starting. 
• This is observed on a full moon day.
• According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu was incarnated as Lord Hayagriva, the God of Knowledge, on this day. 
• It is also celebrated as Hayagriva Jayanti.
• On this day the Yajur Vedic Brahmins start reading the Yajur Veda. 
• A sacred vow or Mahasankalpam is done as compensation for the sins that they committed in the past year.
• Sacred mantras are chanted and usually observed on the banks of rivers or ponds. 
• The Brahmins wake up at sunrise and take a holy dip. 
• They also wear a new sacred thread called Janeyu or Yajnopavit, which represents a new beginning. 

Shravana Putrada Ekadashi

• This festival is also known as Pavitropana Ekadashi or Pavitra Ekadashi. 
• It is celebrated during the 11^th lunar day called Ekadashi of the fortnight of the waxing moon in the Shraavana. 
• During this festival, 24 hours of fasting is observed and worship is offered to Vishnu by couples who do not have a son after their marriage. 
• This festival is mainly observed by the Vaishnavas. 

Kamika Ekadashi

• This event is observed during the 11th day of Krishna Paksha in the Shraavana. 
• On this day, Lord Vishnu is worshipped and fasting is practiced all through the day. 
• This festival is one of the most important Ekadashi celebrations. 
• Through fasting, it is believed that obstacles in previous lives get to be removed and this brings prosperity and happiness in life. 

Hariyali Teej

• This festival is usually celebrated on the third day after the new moon in the month of Shraavana.
• During this day, the married women fast for a day and pray for a happy married life to Shiva and Parvati. 
• In Hindu mythology, Shiva reunited and accepted Parvati on this day as his wife. 
• Women visit their parent’s house on this day, wearing new clothes, preferably green saree with pieces of jewelry. 
• For those who keep fasting, their hands are covered with henna which is part of their ornament. 
• Women also play around swings and sing songs based on Teej. 
• Sindhara, a bucket of gifts, is also sent to a married daughter’s house. 

Varalaksmi Vrat

• This Hindu festival is celebrated on the second Friday or the Friday before the day of the full moon during the Shraavana.
• Women perform Varamahalakshmi Vrata for their well-being and their family members as well. 
• It is believed that worshipping Varalakshmi on this day is the same as worshipping Ashtalakshmi, the eight goddesses of wealth, earth, wisdom, love, fame, peace, contentment, and strength.
• Women on this day offer fruits and sweets. 
• They also decorate a kalasam with saree, flowers, and offer them gold jewelry.

Shraavana Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Shraavana across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Shraavana which is considered a holy month in the Hindu calendar and several festivals are celebrated.

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Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Shraavana Facts
• Let’s Fish
• Two Truths and a Lie
• Acrostic Poem
• What’s for Today?
• Guess Who
• Where is It?
• Dress Up!
• Let’s Go!
• Culture and Tradition
• What Do You Think?

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