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Pradosh Vrat

The Twilight Hour When Shiva Dances

Trayodashi (both Shukla and Krishna Paksha)

Pradosh Vrat

The Twilight Hour When Shiva Dances

Trayodashi (both Shukla and Krishna Paksha)

Deity

Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Nandi

Observance

Vrat · Full-day fast

Duration

1 day

Observed

All India

Pooja Muhurat in New Delhi

07:05 PM – 09:13 PM

Pradosh Kaal · first part of the night

45 minutes before sunset to 45 minutes after sunset

Showing timings for New Delhi (IST), the default city — checking your location for timings that match your own sunrise.

Vrat Parana · breaking the fast

09:13 PM

When the puja window above closes

After the Pradosh Kaal puja concludes, following sunset

Calculated for New Delhi (IST), the default city — checking your location.

About This Day

Bi-monthly fasting on the 13th lunar day (Trayodashi) at dusk, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati.

Pradosh Vrat falls on the Trayodashi tithi of both lunar fortnights and is among the most powerful Shiva observances of the month. The Pradosh Kaal — the 90-minute window straddling sunset — is when Shiva is said to have danced the Tandava on Mount Kailash between the horns of Nandi. Scripture holds that Shiva drank the Halahala poison churned from the ocean on this tithi, and the Devas praised him at twilight in gratitude. Worship offered in this window is believed to dissolve accumulated sin, remove obstacles in marriage and progeny, and grant health and long life. The weekday changes the fruit: Somvar Pradosh grants wishes, Bhaum (Tuesday) Pradosh cures disease and debt, Shani Pradosh grants children.

PradoshamPradosh VratamTrayodashi Vrat

Regional Names

All India

Pradosh Vrat

Karnataka

Pradosha

Tamil Nadu

Pradosham

Maharashtra

Pradosh

Vrat Rules

Many observe a full nirjala (waterless) fast until the evening puja. Those unable to may take fruit and milk once during the day. The fast is always broken after the twilight worship, never before.

Allowed

·fruits

·milk

·water

·sabudana

·singhara flour

·rock salt

Avoided

·grains

·rice

·wheat

·common salt

·onion

·garlic

·non-vegetarian food

·alcohol

Pooja Vidhi , Step by Step

Morning sankalp

Bathe at sunrise, stand before the Shivling and take a sankalp (vow) to observe the fast until Pradosh Kaal

Second bath

Bathe again about an hour before sunset and wear clean, preferably white clothes

Prepare the altar

Clean the puja space, draw a lotus with rangoli, and place the Shivling or a Shiva-Parvati image facing east

Abhishek

Perform abhishek of the Shivling with water, milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar (Panchamrit), then plain water

Bilva and offerings

Offer bilva patra (in threes, smooth side down), white flowers, dhatura, bhasma, akshat and dhoop

Pradosh Kaal puja

During the 90 minutes around sunset, light a ghee lamp and chant the Shiva mantras, then read the Pradosh Vrat Katha

Aarti and parana

Perform Shiva aarti, distribute prasad, and break the fast after the puja concludes

Step-by-step pooja guidance with mantras.

Mantras

Panchakshari Mantra

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya · 108 chants

I bow to Shiva, the auspicious one

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्।।

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat · 108 chants

We worship the three-eyed one who nourishes all beings. May he free us from the bondage of death as a ripe cucumber falls from its stem, and grant us immortality

Pradosh Stotra opening

सत्यं ब्रवीमि परलोकहितं ब्रवीमि सारं ब्रवीम्युपनिषद्धृदयं ब्रवीमि

Satyam Bravimi Paralokahitam Bravimi Saram Bravimyupanishaddhridayam Bravimi · 1 chants

I speak the truth, I speak what benefits the world beyond, I speak the essence, I speak the heart of the Upanishads

Pooja Essentials

Pooja Items

Shivling or Shiva imageBilva patraGanga jalRaw milkCurdHoneyGheeSugarBhasma (vibhuti)White chandanGhee lampDhoopBlack sesame

Flowers

White flowersDhatura flowerAak (Madar) flowerKanerBilva patra

Prasad

PanchamritFruitsSabudana khichdiMilk sweetsCoconut

·Perform the main puja strictly within Pradosh Kaal

·Offer bilva patra in sets of three leaves

·Maintain silence and mental calm through the day

·Read or listen to the Pradosh Vrat Katha

·Circumambulate the Shivling in a half-circle (never full), turning back at the gomukhi

Avoid

·Do not offer tulsi leaves, ketaki flowers or turmeric to Shiva

·Do not break the fast before Pradosh Kaal puja is complete

·Avoid anger, harsh speech and arguments on this day

·Do not consume grains, salt or non-vegetarian food

·Do not complete a full circumambulation of the Shivling — always stop at the water outlet

Remedies

·Offer raw milk mixed with black sesame on the Shivling for relief from Shani dosha

·Light a ghee lamp with a single wick before the Shivling at sunset

·Chant Mahamrityunjaya 108 times for health and protection from untimely death

·Feed a black dog or cow on Shani Pradosh

·Donate white cloth or rice for marital harmony

Daan (Donations)

Black sesameWhite clothRiceGheeMilkFood to the needy

Pradosh Vrat

The Twilight Hour When Shiva Dances

#PradoshVrat#Pradosham#OmNamahShivaya#Mahadev#ShivBhakti#DailyPanchang

Published July 21, 2026

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