Devotees fast without fail on Mondays during Shrawan—they don’t consume food or water until the evening. They also eat only vegetarian items, avoid alcohol and practice celibacy. Fasting is seen as particularly important for women and girls. Unmarried women believe it will improve their chances of finding suitable husbands, while married women pray that their husbands will have long lives.

Shrawan is extremely important compared to the other 11 Nepali months (Baishakh, Jestha, Ashadh, Bahdau, Asoj, Kartik, Mangsir, Poush, Magh, Falgun and Chaitra). Temples devoted to Shiva temple are busier than usual, especially on Mondays.

There are several famous Shiva temples in Nepal, of which Pashupatinath Temple is the most popular. UNESCO also designated it a World Heritage Site. This sprawling complex is located in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city, on the banks of the river Bagmati.

Shrawan is associated with a number of additional practices and beliefs, as follows:

No haircuts

People do not cut their hair during Shrawan because they believe doing so would attract negative events into their lives, such as accidents. It is also believed that shaving or trimming hair during Shrawan can result in cuts and wounds; this is monsoon season, when infections are rife and healing takes time.

Wear green clothing and bangles

Married couples wear green garments and bangles because this will bring blessings from Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. Green is seen as an auspicious colour and will bring happiness to their married life.

Women wear mehndi

Women and girls draw beautiful designs on their hands with henna; these temporary decorations are known as mehndi. They also write the name of their beloved on their palms. The darker the henna, the deeper the love for their beloved.

Bol Bam or Kanwar pilgrimage

During Shrawan, many Shiva devotees follow the Bol Bam or Kanwar pilgrimage: they fetch holy water from sacred rivers and lakes to offer to the deity in temples. Pilgrims are often barefoot and dressed in saffron-coloured robes.

Lord Shiva swallowed poison produced by the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samundra Manthan) to save the universe. As a result, holy water is offered to him, believing it will bring relief to Lord Shiva in what is one of the hottest months of the year.