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Himalayan Healing Tours

Festival Calendar

Shrawan (Saun) Observances

श्रावण / साउन

July 17, 2026 – August 15, 2026 · Shrawan, 2083 BS

Nationwide (Pashupatinath especially)

Plan a trip around Shrawan (Saun) Observances
The Nepali lunar month sacred to Shiva, observed with Monday fasting (Shrawan Sombar) by many Hindu women, and a busy season of pilgrimage to Shiva temples, above all Pashupatinath, culminating in Shrawan's several major festivals.

History & origin

Shrawan is considered Shiva's month across the wider Hindu calendar, tied to the monsoon and the mythological churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), in which Shiva swallowed poison to save creation and is said to have needed cooling water offerings ever since — the root of the month's water-offering rituals at Shiva temples.

How it’s celebrated

Many women, particularly those seeking a good husband or their husband's wellbeing, fast every Monday through the month and visit Shiva temples dressed in green, a color associated with the month. Pashupatinath sees a steady flow of pilgrims offering water, milk and bael leaves at Shiva lingams throughout Shrawan, alongside the month's other festivals — Nag Panchami, Janai Purnima and Gunla among them.

Tips for visitors

Expect Pashupatinath and other Shiva temples to be busier than average on Mondays throughout this month, with women in green a common, striking sight.

Related journeys — Hindu Pilgrimage

Sacred Nepal: Two Traditions

A ten-day comparative journey through Nepal's Hindu and Buddhist sacred landscapes, from Kathmandu's temples to Namo Buddha and Lumbini.

Muktinath Pilgrimage Journey

A seven-day pilgrimage to Muktinath, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, traveling from Pokhara through the dramatic high-altitude landscape of Lower Mustang.

Pashupatinath & Guhyeshwari

A four-day journey anchored around Pashupatinath, one of the most significant Shiva temples in the world, and neighboring Guhyeshwari, a major Shakti site on the same stretch of the Bagmati.

Didn't find quite the right fit?

Any journey here can be adapted, or we can build one from scratch around what actually matters to you — the traditions, pace, dates, group size and budget. Tell us what you have in mind and our team will put together a curated proposal.

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