Vrat · 2026
Pradosh Vrat 2026 — all dates
Pradosh Vrat is kept for Shiva on Trayodashi, the thirteenth lunar day, twice a month, with worship in the twilight after sunset.
Dates in 2026
| Name | Date | Tithi | Pradosh puja |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guru Pradosh | 1 Jan 2026Thursday | 1 Jan, 1:48 AM – 1 Jan, 10:22 PM | 5:35 PM – 8:19 PM |
| Shukra Pradosh | 16 Jan 2026Friday | 15 Jan, 8:17 PM – 16 Jan, 10:22 PM | 5:46 PM – 8:28 PM |
| Shukra Pradosh | 30 Jan 2026Friday | 30 Jan, 11:09 AM – 31 Jan, 8:26 AM | 5:58 PM – 8:36 PM |
| Shani Pradosh | 14 Feb 2026Saturday | 14 Feb, 4:02 PM – 15 Feb, 5:05 PM | 6:10 PM – 8:44 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 1 Mar 2026Sunday | 28 Feb, 8:43 PM – 1 Mar, 7:09 PM | 6:20 PM – 7:09 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 16 Mar 2026Monday | 16 Mar, 9:41 AM – 17 Mar, 9:23 AM | 6:29 PM – 8:53 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 30 Mar 2026Monday | 30 Mar, 7:10 AM – 31 Mar, 6:56 AM | 6:37 PM – 8:56 PM |
| Budha Pradosh | 15 Apr 2026Wednesday | 15 Apr, 12:12 AM – 15 Apr, 10:31 PM | 6:46 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Bhauma Pradosh | 28 Apr 2026Tuesday | 28 Apr, 6:52 PM – 29 Apr, 7:52 PM | 6:54 PM – 9:04 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 14 May 2026Thursday | 14 May, 11:21 AM – 15 May, 8:31 AM | 7:04 PM – 9:09 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 28 May 2026Thursday | 28 May, 7:57 AM – 29 May, 9:51 AM | 7:12 PM – 9:14 PM |
| Shukra Pradosh | 12 Jun 2026Friday | 12 Jun, 7:37 PM – 13 Jun, 4:08 PM | 7:37 PM – 9:19 PM |
| Shani Pradosh | 27 Jun 2026Saturday | 26 Jun, 10:22 PM – 28 Jun, 12:43 AM | 7:22 PM – 9:23 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 12 Jul 2026Sunday | 12 Jul, 2:04 AM – 12 Jul, 10:30 PM | 7:21 PM – 9:23 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 26 Jul 2026Sunday | 26 Jul, 1:58 PM – 27 Jul, 4:15 PM | 7:15 PM – 9:20 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 10 Aug 2026Monday | 10 Aug, 8:01 AM – 11 Aug, 4:54 AM | 7:05 PM – 9:13 PM |
| Bhauma Pradosh | 25 Aug 2026Tuesday | 25 Aug, 6:21 AM – 26 Aug, 7:59 AM | 6:50 PM – 9:03 PM |
| Bhauma Pradosh | 8 Sep 2026Tuesday | 8 Sep, 2:43 PM – 9 Sep, 12:31 PM | 6:34 PM – 8:52 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 24 Sep 2026Thursday | 23 Sep, 10:50 PM – 24 Sep, 11:18 PM | 6:15 PM – 8:38 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 8 Oct 2026Thursday | 7 Oct, 11:16 PM – 8 Oct, 10:16 PM | 5:59 PM – 8:27 PM |
| Shukra Pradosh | 23 Oct 2026Friday | 23 Oct, 2:36 PM – 24 Oct, 1:37 PM | 5:43 PM – 8:16 PM |
| Shukra Pradosh | 6 Nov 2026Friday | 6 Nov, 10:31 AM – 7 Nov, 10:48 AM | 5:32 PM – 8:09 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 22 Nov 2026Sunday | 22 Nov, 4:56 AM – 23 Nov, 2:37 AM | 5:25 PM – 8:05 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 6 Dec 2026Sunday | 6 Dec, 12:52 AM – 7 Dec, 2:22 AM | 5:23 PM – 8:07 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 21 Dec 2026Monday | 21 Dec, 5:36 PM – 22 Dec, 2:24 PM | 5:36 PM – 8:12 PM |
Times for New Delhi (our own calculation, Lahiri ayanamsa). Full festival calendar
Dates in 2027
| Name | Date | Tithi | Pradosh puja |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhauma Pradosh | 5 Jan 2027Tuesday | 4 Jan, 6:16 PM – 5 Jan, 8:40 PM | 5:38 PM – 8:21 PM |
| Budha Pradosh | 20 Jan 2027Wednesday | 20 Jan, 4:41 AM – 21 Jan, 1:12 AM | 5:50 PM – 8:30 PM |
| Budha Pradosh | 3 Feb 2027Wednesday | 3 Feb, 1:50 PM – 4 Feb, 4:31 PM | 6:01 PM – 8:38 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 18 Feb 2027Thursday | 18 Feb, 2:28 PM – 19 Feb, 11:14 AM | 6:13 PM – 8:45 PM |
| Shukra Pradosh | 5 Mar 2027Friday | 5 Mar, 9:54 AM – 6 Mar, 12:03 PM | 6:23 PM – 8:50 PM |
| Shani Pradosh | 20 Mar 2027Saturday | 19 Mar, 11:17 PM – 20 Mar, 8:45 PM | 6:32 PM – 8:45 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 4 Apr 2027Sunday | 4 Apr, 4:27 AM – 5 Apr, 5:23 AM | 6:40 PM – 8:57 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 18 Apr 2027Sunday | 18 Apr, 7:42 AM – 19 Apr, 6:08 AM | 6:48 PM – 9:01 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 3 May 2027Monday | 3 May, 8:04 PM – 4 May, 7:31 PM | 8:04 PM – 9:05 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 17 May 2027Monday | 17 May, 4:28 PM – 18 May, 4:04 PM | 7:05 PM – 9:10 PM |
| Budha Pradosh | 2 Jun 2027Wednesday | 2 Jun, 8:29 AM – 3 Jun, 6:34 AM | 7:14 PM – 9:16 PM |
| Budha Pradosh | 16 Jun 2027Wednesday | 16 Jun, 2:31 AM – 17 Jun, 3:20 AM | 7:20 PM – 9:21 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 1 Jul 2027Thursday | 1 Jul, 6:15 PM – 2 Jul, 3:23 PM | 7:23 PM – 9:23 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 15 Jul 2027Thursday | 15 Jul, 2:40 PM – 16 Jul, 4:35 PM | 7:20 PM – 9:23 PM |
| Shani Pradosh | 31 Jul 2027Saturday | 31 Jul, 2:18 AM – 31 Jul, 10:58 PM | 7:13 PM – 9:18 PM |
| Shani Pradosh | 14 Aug 2027Saturday | 14 Aug, 5:21 AM – 15 Aug, 7:54 AM | 7:01 PM – 9:11 PM |
| Ravi Pradosh | 29 Aug 2027Sunday | 29 Aug, 9:36 AM – 30 Aug, 6:12 AM | 6:46 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 13 Sep 2027Monday | 12 Sep, 10:13 PM – 14 Sep, 12:40 AM | 6:29 PM – 8:48 PM |
| Soma Pradosh | 27 Sep 2027Monday | 27 Sep, 4:55 PM – 28 Sep, 1:55 PM | 6:12 PM – 8:36 PM |
| Bhauma Pradosh | 12 Oct 2027Tuesday | 12 Oct, 4:14 PM – 13 Oct, 5:48 PM | 5:55 PM – 8:24 PM |
| Budha Pradosh | 27 Oct 2027Wednesday | 27 Oct, 1:03 AM – 27 Oct, 10:50 PM | 5:40 PM – 8:14 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 11 Nov 2027Thursday | 11 Nov, 10:07 AM – 12 Nov, 10:21 AM | 5:29 PM – 8:07 PM |
| Guru Pradosh | 25 Nov 2027Thursday | 25 Nov, 10:51 AM – 26 Nov, 9:48 AM | 5:24 PM – 8:05 PM |
| Shani Pradosh | 11 Dec 2027Saturday | 11 Dec, 2:53 AM – 12 Dec, 1:43 AM | 5:24 PM – 8:08 PM |
| Shani Pradosh | 25 Dec 2027Saturday | 24 Dec, 11:08 PM – 25 Dec, 11:32 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:14 PM |
What is Pradosh Vrat?
Pradosh Vrat falls on Trayodashi, the thirteenth tithi, in both the waxing and the waning fortnight, so it comes about twice a month. Pradosh kaal is the twilight after sunset, and the vrat’s worship is done at this hour. Each Pradosh takes the name of its weekday: Soma Pradosh on a Monday, Bhauma on a Tuesday, Budha, Guru and Shukra Pradosh in mid-week, Shani Pradosh on a Saturday and Ravi Pradosh on a Sunday. Soma and Shani Pradosh are held to be especially significant.
The story of Pradosh goes back to the churning of the ocean. When the churning released the poison halahala, Shiva drank it to save the world. It is said that on Trayodashi at twilight, once the gods were safe, Shiva danced in joy on Kailash. That is why the Pradosh hour is believed to be when Shiva is most pleased and approachable, and the gods themselves are said to gather to worship him then. Another katha tells of a poor widow and her son whose fortunes turned after keeping this vrat.
People keep Pradosh as a regular, twice-monthly practice of devotion to Shiva. The weekday names carry traditional associations: Soma Pradosh is kept for peace and well-being, Shani Pradosh by many who wish for children or relief from hardship, and Bhauma Pradosh for health. These are beliefs handed down in tradition, and many people keep every Pradosh simply for the discipline of the fast and the quiet of the evening worship.
How it is observed
- The fast is kept from sunrise, usually with fruit, milk or only water, and broken after the evening puja.
- Bathe again or wash before sunset, and do the puja in pradosh kaal, the twilight window shown in the list.
- Shiva is worshipped as a lingam with water, milk, curd, honey and ghee, and offered bel leaves, dhatura, white flowers and sandal paste; Nandi is honoured as well.
- The Pradosh katha for that weekday is read, followed by Om Namah Shivaya or the Mahamrityunjaya mantra and an aarti.
- Many visit a Shiva temple at twilight; in South India the Pradosh abhishekam is a major temple event.
- Food customs vary: some eat one meal without grains after the puja, others a normal sattvic dinner.
- If you are pregnant, elderly, diabetic or on medication, keep a light fast or none at all, and keep the evening worship. Ask your doctor if you have a health condition.
How the date is fixed
Pradosh Vrat is kept on the day when Trayodashi, the thirteenth tithi, is running during pradosh kaal — the period from sunset to one fifth of the night that follows. This is checked for both the Shukla and the Krishna Trayodashi. If Trayodashi covers pradosh kaal on two consecutive days, the vrat goes to the day on which it covers more of that window. The weekday of the chosen day gives the Pradosh its name.
Where practice differs
In Tamil Nadu and much of South India, Pradosham is a major temple event: abhishekam is offered to Nandi and to Shiva at twilight, and devotees walk a special circuit called the somasutra pradakshina. In the North it is more often kept at home with the katha. Some traditions begin the practice of keeping Pradosh on a Soma or Shani Pradosh, and some people keep only the Shukla Trayodashi.
Dates and times are computed by our own engine (sunrise, tithi and kalas for New Delhi, Lahiri ayanamsa). In another city, or in an almanac of another tradition, the day can differ by one — follow your family’s tradition.
Questions people ask
What time is the Pradosh puja done?
During pradosh kaal, the twilight period that begins at sunset. The list gives this window for each date at your location.
Can I eat during Pradosh Vrat?
Most people take fruit, milk and water during the day and eat after the evening puja. Some keep a nirjala fast; that is a personal choice, not a requirement.
Which Pradosh is the most important?
Soma Pradosh (Monday) and Shani Pradosh (Saturday) are traditionally considered the most significant, but every Pradosh is kept with the same worship.
How is Pradosh different from Masik Shivratri?
Pradosh falls on Trayodashi, the thirteenth tithi of both fortnights, with worship at twilight. Masik Shivratri falls on Krishna Chaturdashi, the day after the waning Trayodashi, with worship at night.