Vrat · Shiva

Pradosh

The twilight of the thirteenth lunar day is sacred to Shiva. Devotees fast during the day and worship in the evening.

Next Pradosh
Friday 6 November 2026
New Delhi

For New Delhi, Friday 6 November 2026

Krishna Trayodashi tithi

Begins
10:31 am
Ends
10:48 am, 7 Nov
Sunrise
6:37 am
Sunset
5:33 pm
Moonrise
4:43 am, 7 Nov
Moonset
3:31 pm

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

Full panchang for this day →

Puja times

For New Delhi, Friday 6 November 2026

Pradosh puja

5:33 pm to 8:10 pm

Trayodashi begins
10:31 am
Trayodashi ends
10:48 am, 7 Nov

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

How it is kept

Customs vary by region and family

  • Fast during the day
  • Worship Shiva at twilight, around sunset
  • Light a lamp and offer bilva leaves

What it remembers

Pradosh, the Trayodashi vrat, is kept twice a month on the thirteenth day of each fortnight, for Shiva. The worship is at twilight, Pradosh Kaal, the hour and a half or more after sunset, when Shiva is said to dance on Kailash in joy and the gods gather to watch. It takes its name from the weekday: Soma Pradosh on a Monday, Shani Pradosh on a Saturday.

The poison and the twilight

When the gods and asuras churned the ocean, the poison halahala rose first. Shiva drank it on Trayodashi and held it in his throat. As twilight fell the gods, relieved, praised him, and he danced between the horns of Nandi. Pradosh is kept for that twilight.

The dance on Kailash

The Skanda Purana says that at every Pradosh Shiva dances on Kailash, with Parvati seated on a golden throne, Saraswati playing the veena and Vishnu the drum, while all the gods watch. To worship him at this hour is to join that gathering.

The poor brahmin widow

A poor brahmin widow found a prince, orphaned and in hiding, and brought him up with her own son. On a sage’s advice she kept the Pradosh vrat for them. The prince won back his kingdom, married a gandharva princess, and made her son his minister: the vrat’s promise of fortune restored.

The twilight puja

The puja is kept in Pradosh Kaal, while Trayodashi holds. Families keep it in many ways; follow your own tradition where it differs.

  1. Fast through the day: on fruit, or until the evening puja.
  2. Bathe again before sunset, and dress in clean or white clothes.
  3. At the Pradosh time, worship Shiva, as a linga or an image, with water, milk, curd, honey and ghee (abhishek), then water again.
  4. Offer bilva leaves, white flowers, dhatura, ash and sandalwood, and light a lamp of ghee.
  5. Worship Nandi too: in temples the Pradosh abhishek of Nandi is a great event.
  6. Chant Om Namah Shivaya, the Shiva Chalisa or the Rudrashtakam, and hear the Pradosh vrat story.
  7. Break the fast after the puja with a simple meal.

What you need

  • A Shiva linga or image, and water, milk, curd, honey and ghee for abhishek
  • Bilva leaves, white flowers and dhatura
  • Vibhuti (ash), sandalwood and a ghee lamp
  • Fruit and sweets to offer

Across India

Tamil Nadu

Pradosham at every Shiva temple: Nandi bathed with milk and honey, and the procession of Shiva and Parvati round the temple at twilight.

Karnataka and Andhra

Temple crowds at twilight; Shani Pradosh on Saturdays is especially sought.

North India

Kept as a vrat at home, with the story read and the fast broken after the evening puja.

Nepal

At Pashupatinath and the Shiva shrines, evening worship on Trayodashi.

When it falls

Twice a month, on Shukla Trayodashi and Krishna Trayodashi. Kept on the day the tithi holds in the evening.

These are the usual rules. A few days can differ by a day in your tradition, so check with your temple.

Coming Pradosh dates

New Delhi, India time

  • Fri 6 Nov 2026
  • Sun 22 Nov 2026
  • Sun 6 Dec 2026
  • Mon 21 Dec 2026
  • Mon 4 Jan 2027
  • Wed 20 Jan 2027
  • Wed 3 Feb 2027
  • Thu 18 Feb 2027
  • Fri 5 Mar 2027
  • Sat 20 Mar 2027
  • Sun 4 Apr 2027
  • Sun 18 Apr 2027

Questions

When is Pradosh in 2026?

Friday 6 November 2026, in New Delhi. In a few places it can fall a day apart, so the date above is worked out for your city.

When does Pradosh fall?

Twice a month, on Shukla Trayodashi and Krishna Trayodashi. Kept on the day the tithi holds in the evening.

How is Pradosh kept?

Families fast during the day, worship Shiva at twilight, around sunset and light a lamp and offer bilva leaves. Customs vary by region and family.

Who is honoured on Pradosh?

Shiva. The twilight of the thirteenth lunar day is sacred to Shiva. Devotees fast during the day and worship in the evening.

What is Pradosh Kaal?

The twilight after sunset: the first part of the night, about an hour and a half to two and a half hours depending on the season. The Pradosh puja is kept in it while Trayodashi holds. The page shows it for your city.

Why does each Pradosh have a different name?

Pradosh takes the name of its weekday: Soma (Monday), Bhauma (Tuesday), Budha (Wednesday), Guru (Thursday), Shukra (Friday), Shani (Saturday) and Ravi (Sunday) Pradosh. Soma and Shani Pradosh are held to be the most powerful.

What if Trayodashi begins after sunset?

Then the Pradosh is kept that evening, from when Trayodashi begins until the end of Pradosh Kaal, as the day whose twilight it reaches. The page shows the shorter time.

Related

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