16 Monday Fast Rules: Fasting is not just about skipping meals; it’s a practice of devotion, discipline, and self-purification. The 16 Monday Fast, also known as the Solah Somwar Vrat, is a special ritual dedicated to Lord Shiva, followed by millions to seek his blessings. If you’re ready to take this spiritual journey, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know — from when to start, rules to follow, and even what to do if something unexpected comes up.
Did We Start on Shravan Somwar?
Starting your Solah Somwar Vrat during the Shravan month (the holy month dedicated to Lord Shiva) is ideal. Why? Because Shravan Somwar is considered the most auspicious time to connect with Shiva. Devotees believe that fasting during this period amplifies the benefits, whether it’s fulfilling your heartfelt wishes or gaining inner peace.
But here’s the good news: If you missed Shravan Somwar, you can still begin the 16 Monday fast on any Monday of the year. Lord Shiva is all about simplicity and pure intentions. So, choose a date that feels right to you and start with devotion.
Rules for Observing 16 Monday Fasts
Fasting for 16 Mondays in a row might seem daunting, but with the right mindset, it becomes a beautiful journey. Here are the key rules to keep in mind:
1. Continuity Matters
Once you start, you need to fast for 16 consecutive Mondays without skipping. This continuity symbolizes your commitment to Lord Shiva.
2. Can You Skip a Monday?
Life happens, right? If you miss a Monday unintentionally, don’t panic. You can make up for it by fasting on another day or by adding an extra fast at the end of the cycle.
3. During Menstruation
If you’re on your period, you can still mentally observe the fast by chanting Shiva mantras and offering silent prayers. Avoid touching the altar or performing rituals if you’re uncomfortable, but don’t stress about missing the physical aspects.
When to Start the 16 Monday Fast
Choosing the right time to begin your Solah Somwar Vrat is a significant step, but it doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. Here’s how you can decide:
Start on an Auspicious Monday
- The most ideal time to start the 16 Monday fast is during the Shravan month, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This period holds immense spiritual significance, and observing the vrat during these weeks is believed to amplify its benefits.
- If Shravan Somwar isn’t possible, don’t worry. Look for another auspicious Monday marked in the Hindu calendar. Days with favorable nakshatras (like Rohini or Mrigashira) or Shiva-focussed festivals like Maha Shivaratri are excellent choices too.
Don’t Overthink It
- If you feel ready and are determined to commit, any Monday can work. The beauty of this vrat lies in your devotion and dedication rather than the date you begin. Remember, Lord Shiva’s grace doesn’t depend on a calendar; it depends on your faith.
- Just ensure that once you start, you stay consistent for 16 Mondays.
Consultation Is Optional
- If you’re unsure or want a customized start date based on astrology, you can consult a priest or astrologer for guidance. They can align your fasting period with your personal horoscope, ensuring it’s spiritually harmonious for you.
Tuesday Fasting: What to Eat, What Not to Eat, and How to Do It Right
How to Keep 16 Somvar Vrat (Solah Somvar Vrat)
The 16 Somvar Vrat, also known as Solah Somvar Vrat, is a popular Hindu fast dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees observe this vrat for 16 consecutive Mondays to seek blessings for health, wealth, marital harmony, and spiritual upliftment. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to keep the vrat properly:
🌅 1. When to Start 16 Somvar Vrat?
The best time to start this vrat is on a Monday during Shravan month, which is considered highly auspicious for Lord Shiva. However, you can begin on any sacred or suitable Monday as per your convenience and belief.
🔔 Important: Once you start, continue for 16 consecutive Mondays without skipping. Consistency and devotion are the key.
🛁 2. Your Morning Routine (Start Your Day Right!)
Wake up early—preferably before sunrise (during Brahma Muhurat).
Here’s what to do:
- Take a bath and wear clean clothes (white or light-colored is ideal).
- Clean your puja area.
- Place a photo or idol of Lord Shiva, along with Goddess Parvati and Nandi (the sacred bull) if available.
🙏 3. Take Sankalp (The Sacred Vow)
Before you begin the puja, sit peacefully and take a Sankalp (vow) in front of Lord Shiva.
🪔 You can say something simple like:
“O Lord Shiva, I take a vow to observe the Solah Somvar Vrat with full faith and devotion for the next 16 Mondays. Please bless me with strength and fulfill my wishes.”
This intention sets the tone for your vrat journey.
🌼 4. Shiv Puja Vidhi – Step-by-Step Ritual
Let’s make your Shiv Puja complete and meaningful. Here’s what you’ll need:
Things You’ll Need:
- Bel Patra (Bilva leaves) – Always offer in sets of 3 intact leaves
- White flowers
- Bananas, coconut, or other fresh fruits
- Ganga Jal or clean water
- Panchamrit – A mix of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar
- Incense sticks, diya, and camphor
- Sandalwood paste
Puja Steps:
- Abhishek of Shiva Linga:
- Offer clean water or Panchamrit to Shiva Linga.
- Gently wipe and again pour water.
- Offerings:
- Apply sandalwood paste.
- Offer Bel Patra, white flowers, fruits, and sweets.
- Light incense sticks and diya (lamp).
- Mantra Chanting:
- Chant “Om Namah Shivaya” at least 108 times.
- You can also recite the Shiva Chalisa or the powerful Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.
📖 5. Don’t Skip the Vrat Katha (Story)
Reading or listening to the Solah Somvar Vrat Katha is an essential part of the vrat.
🕉️ This sacred story shares how sincere devotion and this vrat helped people—including a queen and a common woman—overcome suffering and find divine blessings from Lord Shiva.
✅ You can read it at home or listen to an audio version available online or at temples.
🌙 6. Fasting Rules You Should Follow
You can choose how strictly you want to fast based on your health and lifestyle. Here are your options:
- Nirjala Vrat – No food or water all day (very strict).
- Phalahar Vrat – Eat only fruits, milk, or liquids.
- One-time Satvik Meal – No grains, onion, garlic, or non-veg.
Also:
- Avoid anger, lies, and harsh words.
- Stay calm, focused, and spiritually inclined throughout the day.
🌌 7. Evening Ritual
As the day winds down:
- Light a diya again at your altar.
- Offer flowers or fruits if possible.
- Chant Shiva bhajans or read sacred texts like the Shiva Purana or simple mantras.
This keeps the divine energy alive in your heart and home.
🍽️ 8. How and When to Break the Fast
- If you’re doing Phalahar or One-meal vrat, break the fast after sunset with satvik food (no onion, garlic, or spicy food).
- If you’re doing Nirjala vrat, break the fast next morning after puja.
✅ Always begin the meal by mentally offering thanks to Lord Shiva.
What to Do on the 17th Monday (Vrat Completion)
The 17th Monday is not just an ordinary day—it’s a sacred conclusion to your spiritual journey of the 16 Somvar Vrat. After 16 weeks of fasting, prayer, and devotion to Lord Shiva, the 17th Monday marks the Udyapan—the final ritual that brings the vrat to a spiritually fulfilling close.
Here’s what you should do:
🔱 Perform Udyapan (Conclusion Ritual)
- Offer your final puja to Lord Shiva either at home or in a temple.
- Perform Shivling Abhishekam using milk, honey, ghee, sugar, curd (panchamrit), and water.
- Decorate the puja space with flowers and belpatra.
- Chant “Om Namah Shivaya” or recite Shiva Chalisa and Rudrashtakam.
🍛 Feed Brahmins or the Needy
It is traditional to offer food as a gesture of gratitude:
- Feed Brahmins, sadhus, or the poor with freshly cooked satvik food.
- Include prasad like fruits, sweets, and kheer.
- If unable to do this physically, consider donating food or money to a temple or charitable trust.
🙏 Offer Thanks and Sankalp
- Thank Lord Shiva with folded hands for guiding you through all 16 fasts.
- Reaffirm your faith and ask for continued blessings.
- Make a simple sankalp (vow) to continue your spiritual practices with devotion and humility.
✨ Continue Your Shiva Connection
Consider observing fasts on Pradosh or Mahashivratri going forward.
Though the vrat ends, your connection with Lord Shiva doesn’t.
Chant Shiva’s name daily, light a diya on Mondays, or read Shiva scriptures regularly.
Process of Observing the 16 Monday Fast
Fasting during Solah Somwar is more than just refraining from certain foods. It’s a holistic practice that involves devotion, discipline, and rituals, connecting you to the divine. Here’s how to observe the fast step by step:
Night Before (Sunday)
Preparation begins the evening before the fast. This sets the tone for your spiritual commitment.
- Eat a Light Dinner:
- Avoid heavy, spicy, or non-vegetarian meals on Sunday night. A sattvic (pure) meal like khichdi or boiled vegetables is ideal.
- This helps your body transition smoothly into fasting mode the next day.
- Mental Preparation:
- Take a moment to reflect on your intention behind the fast. Visualise offering your devotion to Lord Shiva and seeking his blessings.
- If possible, meditate or chant “Om Namah Shivaya” to calm your mind and focus your energy.
- Prepare the Space:
- Clean the area where you’ll perform the puja (prayer). Arrange the necessary items like a Shivling or Lord Shiva’s image, a diya (oil lamp), flowers, Bel Patra, fruits, and incense sticks.
Monday Morning Rituals
Your Monday begins with devotion and purity, starting right after you wake up.
- Take a Holy Bath:
- Begin the day by bathing with clean water, preferably adding a few drops of Ganga jal (holy water) if available. This signifies the purification of the body and mind.
- Wear fresh, clean clothes, preferably in white or light colors, symbolizing peace and simplicity.
- Set Up Your Altar:
- Create a small altar or use your existing puja area to honor Lord Shiva. Place a Shivling or a photo of Shiva in the center.
- Light a diya (oil lamp) to signify the removal of darkness from your life.
- Offerings to Lord Shiva:
- Present Lord Shiva with sacred offerings like:
- Bel Patra: Three-leafed Bael leaves are considered Lord Shiva’s favorite.
- White Flowers: Symbolising purity and devotion.
- Milk and Water: Pour these on the Shivling as abhishekam (ritual bathing).
- Sandalwood Paste: Apply it to the Shivling or the idol.
- Fruits: Place fresh fruits as prasadam (blessed offering).
- Present Lord Shiva with sacred offerings like:
Chanting and Prayers
This is the most important part of the fast and connects you spiritually to Lord Shiva.
- Chant Shiva Mantras:
- Recite “Om Namah Shivaya” at least 108 times using a rudraksha mala (prayer beads).
- If you’re familiar, chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, which is believed to bring health, prosperity, and protection.
- Read or Listen to the Solah Somwar Vrat Katha:
- The vrat katha narrates stories that highlight the significance of the Solah Somwar fast. These stories inspire devotion and teach moral values.
- You can read the katha aloud yourself or listen to it through audio recordings or videos available online.
- Meditate:
- Spend a few minutes meditating on Lord Shiva. Visualize his calm, meditative form and feel his divine energy around you. This practice will fill your mind with peace and positivity.
During the Day
Fasting doesn’t just involve abstaining from food; it’s also about maintaining purity in thoughts and actions throughout the day.
- Avoid engaging in conflicts or negative conversations.
- Focus on spreading kindness and being mindful of your actions.
- If hunger strikes consume permitted foods like fruits, milk, or coconut water.
Can We Eat One-Time Food in Monday Fast?
What to Eat and What to Avoid During the Fast
Fasting during the Solah Somwar Vrat doesn’t mean depriving yourself or feeling weak. It’s about eating light and sattvic foods that support your devotion and cleanse your body and mind. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s allowed and what to avoid:
Allowed Foods
The focus is on simple, natural, and easily digestible foods. Here are some choices:
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Bananas, apples, pomegranates, guavas, and seasonal fruits.
- Boiled or baked vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes.
- Dairy Products
- Milk, curd, and buttermilk (churned with rock salt).
- Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) in light, simple dishes.
- Vrat-Friendly Grains and Flours
- Buckwheat flour (kuttu) and water chestnut flour (singhada) for making puris, parathas, or pancakes.
- Samak rice (barnyard millet), is often used to make khichdi or pulao.
- Light Snacks and Sweets
- Sabudana (tapioca) khichdi or vada.
- Roasted makhanas (fox nuts) or a simple makhana kheer.
- Dry fruits like almonds, raisins, and walnuts.
- Hydrating Drinks
- Coconut water, fresh lime water, or fruit juices (without added sugar).
- Herbal teas like tulsi or ginger tea.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods are strictly avoided during the fast as they are considered tamasic or impure for spiritual practices.
- Non-Vegetarian Food
- All forms of meat, fish, and eggs are not allowed.
- Onion and Garlic
- These are considered rajasic and tamasic, which may disturb spiritual vibrations.
- Cereals and Regular Grains
- Avoid wheat, rice, lentils, and legumes. Instead, opt for vrat-approved substitutes.
- Processed or Packaged Foods
- Chips, biscuits, and other snacks with artificial preservatives or additives should be avoided.
- Oily and Spicy Foods
- Anything too spicy, fried, or greasy is discouraged as it can make you lethargic.
- Beverages Like Alcohol or Caffeinated Drinks
- Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Minimise tea and coffee consumption to avoid dehydration.
Pro Tip for Staying Energised
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
- If you feel low on energy, sip on coconut water or eat a handful of nuts for a quick boost.
- Preparing vrat-friendly meals in advance can make the fasting day smooth and stress-free.
Evening Rituals to Follow
As the sun sets, it’s time to reconnect with Lord Shiva through evening prayers. Here’s what you can do:
- Lighting a Diya
- Light a diya (oil lamp) near the altar or the Shivling. This is a symbolic way of illuminating your spiritual path and removing darkness from your life.
- Evening Prayers
- Offer a second round of Bel Patra, milk, and flowers to Lord Shiva. Chant mantras like “Om Namah Shivaya” or the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.
- Reflect on the day’s fasting and express gratitude for his blessings.
- Temple Visit (Optional)
- If possible, visit a nearby Shiva temple for an evening darshan. It’s a beautiful way to enhance your connection and immerse yourself in the divine atmosphere.
- Meditation
- Spend a few moments meditating in silence. Visualise Lord Shiva’s calm and composed form, and let his energy fill your mind and soul.
What If You Miss a Monday?
Life can be unpredictable, and missing a Monday might happen. Don’t let this discourage you. Here’s how you can handle it:
- Fast on an Additional Day:
- After completing your 16-week cycle, add an extra day of fasting to make up for the missed Monday.
- Offer Extra Prayers or Donations:
- Visit a Shiva temple and offer donations like food, clothes, or money to those in need. This act of kindness can balance your missed fast.
- Focus on Your Intention:
- Remember, the essence of the Solah Somwar Vrat is devotion and faith. A missed Monday doesn’t negate your efforts if your intentions remain pure.
Additional Tips for a Missed Monday
If you know in advance that you might miss a Monday due to health, travel, or other reasons, you can:
- Perform the puja and prayers a day earlier or later to compensate.
- Continue chanting mantras or meditating on Lord Shiva even if you can’t observe the fast in full.
Thursday Fast Rules: Everything You Need to Know
Conclusion
The 16 Monday Fast (Solah Somwar Vrat) isn’t just a ritual; it’s a spiritual journey towards self-discipline, devotion, and divine blessings. Whether you start during Shravan or any other time, the key is your intention and commitment. So, are you ready to take this path and experience the transformative power of Lord Shiva’s blessings?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I Observe the Fast if I’m Unwell?
Yes, but adapt it to your health. You can pray and chant mantras while skipping the food-related restrictions.
2. What If I Get My Periods During the Fast?
You can mentally observe the fast by focusing on prayers and chanting. Physical rituals can be skipped if needed.
3. Can I Eat Cooked Food During the Fast?
Yes, but stick to vrat-friendly recipes like sabudana, fruits, or dairy-based meals. Avoid heavy spices and processed foods.
4. Is the Fast Effective if Observed Irregularly?
The true essence lies in commitment, but any effort made with devotion is valuable. Try to stay consistent to maximise the benefits.
5. Can Working Professionals Follow This Fast?
Absolutely! It’s all about finding a balance. Prepare simple vrat meals beforehand and keep up with short prayers during breaks.
6. What is the best time to start 16 Somvar Vrat?
The most auspicious time to start 16 Somvar Vrat is during the Shravan month (July–August), which is highly sacred to Lord Shiva.
However, if you miss this period, you can start the vrat on any Monday that is astrologically auspicious, such as during Chaturmas or Shiva-related festivals like Mahashivratri.
7. Can we drink coffee during Somvar Vrat?
Yes, you can drink coffee or te if you’re following a phalahar vrat (fruit and liquid-based fast), as long as you don’t add processed sugar or milk in excess.
However, some devotees prefer avoiding stimulants like tea/coffee for spiritual purity. It’s best to follow what feels right to your belief system—or as advised by your family tradition or priest.
8. Can we do 16 Somvar Vrat during periods?
Yes, you can observe the 16 Somvar Vrat during period, especially if you’re just fasting and praying mentally.
In some traditional households, women avoid entering the puja room or touching idols during menstruation. If this applies to you:
- You can skip the puja that day and just keep the fast.
- Or mentally offer your prayers without physical rituals.
📿 Remember: Lord Shiva is known for being compassionate—your bhav (devotion) matters more than ritualistic perfection.
9 Can we eat biscuits during Monday fast?
It depends on the type of biscuits and the vrat you’re following:
- If you’re doing a strict phalahar vrat, avoid biscuits as they often contain maida (refined flour), baking powder, salt, and preservatives.
- If you’re on a satvik or one-meal vrat, you can eat homemade or simple biscuits without salt, eggs, or preservatives.
✅ Safer options: Fruits, milk, nuts, and vrat-friendly snacks like sabudana, makhana, or coconut water.
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