Pradosh Vrat — monthly vrat dedicated to Lord Shiva, observed in the evening of every Trayodashi (both Shukla and Krishna paksha). The word "Pradosh" comes from Sanskrit "Pra + Dosha" — "Pra" meaning complete, "Dosha" meaning the initial period of night. Pradosh Kaal is the time of about 90 minutes from sunset (45 minutes before + 45 minutes after) — this is the main vrat time.
According to scriptures, during Pradosh Kaal, Lord Shiva performs anand-tandav before Nandi on Mount Kailash. All deities gather and praise Shiva. Pleasing Shiva is easiest at this time — one Pradosh vrat equals the punya of 24 Pradosh tithis of the year. In this article, we will detail all 24 Pradosh tithis of 2026 — exact dates, Pradosh Kaal times, puja procedure, mantras, and special Pradosh.
✦ Accurate Computation of Pradosh Kaal
Pradosh Kaal = 45 minutes before sunset to 45 minutes after sunset (total 90 minutes). This is the same time when day and night meet — "Sandhya Kaal". In modern astronomical terms, this is the last part of "civil twilight".
Example: If sunset in Delhi on 28 April 2026 is at 6:55 PM — Pradosh Kaal 6:10 PM to 7:40 PM. Different for each location-date. Our calculator gives local Pradosh Kaal for 200+ cities.
Trayodashi tithi being in Pradosh-Kaal is mandatory. If Trayodashi ends before sunset — vrat is considered for Dvadashi only. If Trayodashi begins only after the next day's sunset — vrat on Chaturdashi night.
✦ 24 Pradosh Tithis of 2026
January 2026: 7 January (Wed) — Pausha Shukla Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 5:55-7:25 PM. 22 January (Thu) — Pausha Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 6:00-7:30 PM.
February 2026: 6 February (Fri) — Magha Shukla Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 6:10-7:40 PM. 20 February (Fri) — Magha Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 6:20-7:50 PM.
March 2026: 7 March (Sat) — Phalguna Shukla Trayodashi (Shani Pradosh — especially auspicious for Shani-dosha removal). Pradosh Kaal 6:25-7:55 PM. 22 March (Sun) — Phalguna Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 6:35-8:05 PM.
April 2026: 5 April (Sun) — Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi (Ravi Pradosh — auspicious for health). Pradosh Kaal 6:40-8:10 PM. 20 April (Mon) — Chaitra Krishna Trayodashi (Som Pradosh — best, for wish fulfillment). Pradosh Kaal 6:50-8:20 PM.
May 2026: 5 May (Tue) — Vaishakha Shukla Trayodashi (Mangal Pradosh — for debt-relief, debt-recovery). Pradosh Kaal 7:00-8:30 PM. 19 May (Tue) — Vaishakha Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 7:05-8:35 PM.
June 2026: 4 June (Wed) — Jyeshtha Shukla Trayodashi (Budh Pradosh — for education-business). Pradosh Kaal 7:15-8:45 PM. 18 June (Thu) — Jyeshtha Krishna Trayodashi (Guru Pradosh — knowledge, prosperity). Pradosh Kaal 7:20-8:50 PM.
July 2026: 3 July (Fri) — Ashadha Shukla Trayodashi (Shukra Pradosh — fortune). Pradosh Kaal 7:25-8:55 PM. 17 July (Fri) — Ashadha Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 7:25-8:55 PM.
August 2026: 1 August (Sat) — Shravana Shukla Trayodashi (Shani Pradosh — supreme time for Shiva-grace in Shravana month). Pradosh Kaal 7:20-8:50 PM. 16 August (Sun) — Shravana Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 7:10-8:40 PM. 31 August (Mon) — Bhadrapada Shukla Trayodashi (Som Pradosh). Pradosh Kaal 6:55-8:25 PM.
September 2026: 14 September (Mon) — Bhadrapada Krishna Trayodashi (Som Pradosh). Pradosh Kaal 6:40-8:10 PM. 30 September (Wed) — Ashwina Shukla Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 6:20-7:50 PM.
October 2026: 14 October (Wed) — Ashwina Krishna Trayodashi (Dhanteras — especially auspicious). Pradosh Kaal 6:00-7:30 PM. 30 October (Fri) — Kartika Shukla Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 5:50-7:20 PM.
November 2026: 7 November (Sat) — Kartika Krishna Trayodashi (Dhanteras + Shani Pradosh — maha-auspicious). Pradosh Kaal 5:35-7:05 PM. 13 November (Fri) — Kartika Shukla Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 5:25-6:55 PM. 27 November (Fri) — Margashirsha Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 5:15-6:45 PM.
December 2026: 12 December (Sat) — Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi (Shani Pradosh). Pradosh Kaal 5:25-6:55 PM. 27 December (Sun) — Pausha Krishna Trayodashi. Pradosh Kaal 5:35-7:05 PM.
✦ Special Pradosh Vrat — Day-Specific Results
Som Pradosh (Monday Pradosh) — best. Moon is Shiva's favorite planet. Unique for wish-fulfillment. Vrat on this day removes 100 years of sins.
Mangal Pradosh (Tuesday/Mars Pradosh) — special for debt-relief, debt-recovery. Mars is the karaka planet of debt. On this Pradosh, worship of both Hanuman-Shiva.
Budh Pradosh (Wednesday Pradosh) — knowledge-attainment, success in business. Auspicious for beginning education and business.
Guru Pradosh (Thursday Pradosh) — pitru-dosha removal. Knowledge, prosperity, honor. Both Brihaspati-Shiva are presiding deities of knowledge.
Shukra Pradosh (Friday Pradosh) — fortune, wealth-prosperity, marital happiness. Especially auspicious for women. Husband's longevity.
Shani Pradosh (Saturday Pradosh) — Shani-dosha, Sade Sati, Dhaiyya removal. Most famous. Shiva is Shani's guru — Shiva-grace brings Shani-grace.
Ravi/Bhauma Pradosh (Sunday Pradosh) — health benefits, Sun-dosha removal. For leadership, government work.
✦ Pradosh Vrat Procedure
Throughout the day: Wake in morning and bathe, white/saffron clothes. Sattvic meal (one time) throughout the day. Meat, alcohol, onion, garlic, masoor dal prohibited. Mental chanting of "Om Namah Shivaya".
Before sunset: Bathe, focus mind. Before Pradosh Kaal begins, go to Shivalaya or home temple. Panchamrita bath on Shivalinga (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar), water-milk abhishek, bel-leaves (3 leaves on one stem, place inverted), bhang, dhatura, white flowers, sandal, akshat offering.
Mantra-japa: "Om Namah Shivaya" (panchakshari, the best) at least 108 times. Mahamrityunjaya Mantra — "Om Tryambakam Yajamahe..." 11/108 times. Shiva Chalisa or Shiva Tandava Stotra.
Pradosh Kaal puja: Begin 45 minutes before sunset. Light lamps — 5/7/11 lamps before Shiva. Incense-dhup. Listen to/read Pradosh vrat katha (day-specific). Perform aarti — "Om Jai Shiv Omkara".
Paran: Vrat opens at end of Pradosh Kaal (45 minutes after sunset). Ekabhukta (one-time) phalahari or sattvic meal. Donation — milk, white clothes, silver.
Special note: Turmeric, sindoor, kewada flower, champa flower prohibited on Shivalinga. Tulsi leaves also not in Shiva-puja. Bel-leaves are Shiva's most favorite.
✦ Benefits of Pradosh Vrat
Religious benefits: Destruction of all sin-karmas, attainment of moksha. All wishes fulfilled by Shiva-grace. Mahamrityunjaya protection — protection from incurable diseases, untimely death. Removal of pitru-dosha, kalsarpa, sarpa-dosha.
Planetary peace: Each weekday's Pradosh brings grace of that planet. Shani-dosha, Rahu-Ketu, Moon-dosha, Mangal-dosha — all planetary doshas pacified.
Mental benefits: Mind-peace, concentration in meditation, victory over anger and ego. Freedom from family discord. Marital happiness.
Special: Pradosh especially fruitful for child-attainment. Belief that 16 Pradosh vrat-sankalpa by women yields son-attainment.
📚Sources & References
Content in this article is verified against the following classical and modern authoritative sources. Readers may independently verify against the original sources.
- ▪Surya Siddhanta — classical Sanskrit astronomical text (~5th century CE)
- ▪Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra — foundational text on Vedic astrology by Maharishi Parashara
- ▪Muhurta Chintamani by Ram Daivajna (16th century) — standard reference for muhurat selection
- ▪Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell, 1998) — basis for all astronomical computations on this site
- ▪Lahiri Ayanamsa — standard sidereal reference adopted by the Indian Calendar Reform Committee (1955)
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
Are Trayodashi and Pradosh vrat the same?▼
Yes. Pradosh vrat is observed on every Trayodashi (Shukla and Krishna paksha). "Trayodashi" is the name of tithi, "Pradosh" is the name of period. Both together form the complete vrat.
Is full-day vrat necessary in Pradosh?▼
Traditionally yes. Fast from morning to Pradosh Kaal, then puja, then paran. However if difficult, can have "ekabhukta" (one-time meal) phalahari in evening. The main importance is the puja during Pradosh Kaal.
Should one observe monthly Pradosh or only special Pradosh?▼
Whatever is possible. Regular monthly Pradosh (2 per month = 24 per year) is best. If not possible, Shani Pradosh, Som Pradosh, Pradosh of Shravana month — especially auspicious. Pradosh one day before Mahashivaratri is especially fruitful.
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Note: This content is published for educational and cultural reference. For personal religious or astrological decisions, please consult a qualified pandit or jyotishi.