What is Soma Pradosh?

The Shiva Pradosh vrat observed when Trayodashi tithi falls on a Monday; considered especially peaceful because Monday belongs to both Shiva and the Moon.

When is Soma Pradosh in 2026?

Monday, 16 March, 30 March, 10 August, and 21 December.

What is pradosh kaal?

The twilight window right after sunset, before night sets in — considered the best time for Shiva worship. Check that day's panchang page for the exact window.

What benefit is Soma Pradosh believed to bring?

Peace of mind, relief from Chandra dosha, marital happiness, and children — this is a matter of belief, not a universal guarantee.

How is the vrat observed and what can be eaten while fasting?

A fast is kept through the day, and during pradosh kaal a Shiva abhishek is performed with bilva leaves offered, chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya'; the fast is either waterless or fruit-only.

What is the story behind Pradosh vrat?

Shiva drinking the Halahal poison from the Samudra Manthan (the Neelkanth story), and a widowed Brahmin woman's adopted prince regaining his kingdom and marriage through the merit of Pradosh vrat — both are shared, weekday-agnostic legends across the whole Pradosh family; no distinct Monday-specific story was found.

Soma Pradosh

Pradosh vrat is a Shiva observance kept on Trayodashi tithi every month, in both the Shukla and Krishna paksha. When this Trayodashi falls on a Monday, it is called Soma Pradosh. Since Monday is ruled by both Shiva and the Moon (Chandra/Soma), Soma Pradosh is considered the most peaceful and beloved of all the Pradoshas. In 2026 this coincidence happens four times — 16 March, 30 March, 10 August, and 21 December.

Deity: Shiva (Mahadev) + Chandra (Moon)

This year's dates (2026)

Significance

Pradosh is the twilight window that begins right after sunset, before night sets in. When Trayodashi tithi and this pradosh window coincide, it is considered the most auspicious moment for Shiva worship — tradition holds that all the gods gather on Kailash to worship Shiva at this hour.

The exact clock time for pradosh kaal varies by city — check that day's panchang page for the precise window.

Because Monday is ruled by both Lord Shiva and the Moon (Chandra/Soma), Soma Pradosh is regarded as the most peaceful and beloved among all the Pradoshas.

Since it is linked to the Moon, Shiva worship on this day is believed to bring peace of mind and to soften inauspicious lunar (Chandra) combinations in one's horoscope. It is also considered especially beneficial for marital happiness, family prosperity, finding a suitable life partner, and having children.

Soma Pradosh, too, can fall in either paksha — in 2026, 16 March and 10 August fall in Krishna paksha, while 30 March and 21 December fall in Shukla paksha. Interestingly, on all four days the sunrise tithi is Dwadashi, with Trayodashi beginning only that evening, during pradosh kaal itself — the cleanest illustration in the whole Pradosh family that pradosh is decided by the tithi at pradosh kaal, not the tithi at sunrise.

The legend

Two distinct legends are associated with Pradosh vrat — one explains why the pradosh window itself is considered sacred, the other is the traditional story of the vrat's reward. These stories are shared across the whole Pradosh family — they do not change by weekday, only the believed benefit does.

When the gods and demons churned the ocean, it released a terrible poison called Halahal, capable of destroying all creation. To protect creation, Shiva himself drank that poison — and from then on came to be known as Neelkanth (the blue-throated one). This is believed to have happened on Trayodashi, during the pradosh window itself; pleased afterward, Shiva performed his joyful Tandava dance on Kailash — which is why this twilight hour is held to be the most sacred time for Shiva worship.

A separate story tells of the vrat's reward. A widowed Brahmin woman had adopted an orphaned prince of Vidarbha alongside her own son. A sage advised her to observe Pradosh vrat, which she did faithfully. By Shiva's grace, the prince married the Gandharva princess Anshumati, and with the help of the Gandharva army, reclaimed his lost kingdom — this is the traditional story told of the Pradosh vrat's reward. In honesty, this remains a weekday-agnostic family story — no distinct Monday-specific legend was found in the sources for this page; what makes Soma Pradosh distinctive is its Chandra-linked benefit and the four 2026 dates above, not a separate katha.

Who observes it

All Shiva devotees — regardless of gender or age — observe this vrat for wish-fulfilment, relief from planetary afflictions, and Shiva's grace. Soma Pradosh in particular is believed to be observed by those seeking peace of mind, those with a weak or afflicted Moon in their birth chart, and those wishing for a suitable marriage or children.

Puja vidhi

A sankalp (vow) is taken during the day and a fast is kept — bathing before sunrise, followed by a waterless fast or a fruit-only diet.
In the evening, at sunset, a second bath is taken to prepare for the puja.
During the pradosh window, a full shodashopachar puja (16-step worship) is offered to the Shiva lingam or murti; some traditions also worship Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Kartikeya, and Nandi together.
Abhishek is performed with water, milk, and panchamrit; bilva leaves, sandal paste, unbroken rice, flowers, and incense-lamps are offered.
The mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya' is chanted; some traditions add the Mahamrityunjay mantra and a Chandra mantra.
After listening to the vrat katha and the aarti, the fast is broken by tradition.

What you need

A Shiva lingam or murti (or one made of turmeric-kumkum or clay), bilva leaves, water/Gangajal, milk-panchamrit, sandalwood paste, unbroken rice, white flowers, incense-lamps, an offering of fruit or white sweets (considered linked to the Moon), and white clothing where possible.

Shiva lingam (or turmeric-kumkum/clay)

Bilva leaves

Water/Gangajal

Milk-panchamrit

Sandalwood paste

Unbroken rice (akshata)

White flowers

Incense

Lamp

Fruit (naivedya)

White sweets

White clothing

Fasting

Fasting is not mandatory — depending on capacity, some keep a full waterless fast, others eat only fruit. Grains, rice, and plain salt are avoided; restraint is recommended.

Mantra & aarti

The five-syllable mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya' (meaning: salutations to Shiva) is the core mantra of Pradosh worship. Some traditions also chant the Mahamrityunjay mantra on Soma Pradosh — its meaning and opening line are given here; the full text is not reproduced here.

A traditional public-domain Marathi aarti, "Lavathavati Vikraala" by Samarth Ramdas, is sung to Shiva on this occasion — it opens with "Lavathavati vikraala brahmandi maala…"

Lavathavati vikrala brahmandi mala |Vishe kanth kala trinetri jwala |Lavanyasundar mastaki bala |Tethuniya jal nirmal vahe zulzula || 1 ||Jai dev jai dev jai Shrishankara |Aarti ovalu tuj karpurgaura || dhru ||Karpurgaura bhola nayani vishala |Ardhangi Parvati sumananchya mala |Vibhutiche udhalan shitikanth nila |Aisa Shankar shobhe Umavelhala || 2 ||Devi daityi sagarmanthan pai kele |Tyamaji je avachit halahal uthile |Te twa asurpane prashan kele |Nilkanth nam prasiddha zale || 3 ||Vyaghrambar phanivardhar sundar madanari |Panchanan manmohan munijansukhkari |Shatkotiche bij vache uchchari |Raghukultilak Ramdasa antari || 4 ||

Regional customs

Maharashtra follows the amanta calendar, where Trayodashi is counted in both pakshas — so Soma Pradosh can fall in any masa, in either paksha; it is not tied to one particular month. During the pradosh window, Nandi is worshipped especially at Shiva temples.

Soma Pradosh should not be confused with Somvar vrat / Solah Somvar or Shravani Somvar. Soma Pradosh is tied to Trayodashi tithi (occurring in any masa, roughly once a month), while Solah Somvar/Somvar vrat is tithi-independent and observed every single Monday, and Shravani Somvar is observed only on Mondays within the Shravan masa (with Shivamuth). All three centre on Shiva and Monday, but they remain distinct vrats.

Soma Pradosh (Trayodashi, evening) and Masik Shivratri (Chaturdashi, midnight) are consecutive but distinct tithis — these should not be confused with each other.

Good to know

The exact pradosh-kaal time depends on sunset and varies by city — check that day's panchang page, along with its Rahukaal window, for the precise timing.
The Chandra-linked benefits — peace of mind, Chandra-dosha relief — are a matter of belief, not a universal astrological or medical guarantee.
A waterless fast isn't suitable for everyone — those with diabetes, blood pressure issues, pregnant women, and the elderly should choose the fruit-only option, and stay well hydrated.
Some 'pradosh' days show Dwadashi tithi in the panchang, because Trayodashi begins only that evening — this isn't a mix-up, it's simply how the pradosh-kaal rule works.

FAQ

What is Soma Pradosh?: The Shiva Pradosh vrat observed when Trayodashi tithi falls on a Monday; considered especially peaceful because Monday belongs to both Shiva and the Moon.
When is Soma Pradosh in 2026?: Monday, 16 March, 30 March, 10 August, and 21 December.
Are Soma Pradosh and Solah Somvar the same vrat?: No — Soma Pradosh is tied to Trayodashi tithi (roughly once a month), while Solah Somvar/Somvar vrat is tithi-independent and observed every Monday.
What is pradosh kaal?: The twilight window right after sunset, before night sets in — considered the best time for Shiva worship. Check that day's panchang page for the exact window.
Does Soma Pradosh fall in Shukla or Krishna paksha?: Either — in 2026, 16 March and 10 August fall in Krishna paksha, while 30 March and 21 December fall in Shukla paksha.
What benefit is Soma Pradosh believed to bring?: Peace of mind, relief from Chandra dosha, marital happiness, and children — this is a matter of belief, not a universal guarantee.
How is the vrat observed and what can be eaten while fasting?: A fast is kept through the day, and during pradosh kaal a Shiva abhishek is performed with bilva leaves offered, chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya'; the fast is either waterless or fruit-only.
What is the story behind Pradosh vrat?: Shiva drinking the Halahal poison from the Samudra Manthan (the Neelkanth story), and a widowed Brahmin woman's adopted prince regaining his kingdom and marriage through the merit of Pradosh vrat — both are shared, weekday-agnostic legends across the whole Pradosh family; no distinct Monday-specific story was found.