Sawan Shivratri is an auspicious festival which is celebrated annually in the month of Sawan of the Hindu calendar. This year, Sawan Shivratri will be celebrated on July 19 (Sunday).As per Hindu mythology, it is believed that observing Shivratri rituals on this occasion could lead one to attain Moksha or what is recognised to be the liberation from the cycle of life and death.
According to legends, it is on this day that Lord Shiva got married to Goddess Parvati after she observed rigid atonement on moonless nights for his long life and well-being. Sawan Shivratri, to commemorate this special occasion ,marks the sacred union of Shakti and Lord Shiva, the two great forces in the universe.
Devotees, on this day, carry water from Ganga and pour it on the idol or linga at various temples. Apart from this, unmarried women observe fast on all Mondays of the month of Sawan, to be blessed with a good husband. It is one of the most popular festivals in the northern states of India including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and also Bihar. The rituals are usually observed at night and goes on until early in the evening.
Devotees termed as ‘kawariya’ also pay regular visits to Shiva shrines during this holy month. Owing to the current circumstances, the situation this year might be difficult amid the coronavirus pandemic.