Pradoshप्रदोष

Pradosh (also Pradosham in South India) refers to the approximately 2.5-hour twilight window around sunset on the Trayodashi tithi (13th lunar day) of each fortnightly cycle. Because there are two fortnights per Hindu lunar month — Shukla Paksha (waxing) and Krishna Paksha (waning) — Pradosh falls twice a month, yielding 24 observances per year (25 in 2026 due to Adhik Maas). The Shiva Purana teaches that during Pradosh Kaal, Lord Shiva performs his cosmic Tandava dance on Mount Kailash, attended by all the gods — making this the most auspicious window of the entire fortnight for Shiva worship. Devotees observe a day-long fast (phalahari or complete) and perform puja during the Pradosh Kaal window (roughly 45 minutes before to 1 hour 36 minutes after sunset), offering Belpatra (Bael leaves), milk Abhishekam, and Datura flowers to the Shivalinga while chanting Om Namah Shivaya and the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. Pradosh is classified by the weekday (Vara) on which it falls: Som Pradosh (Monday, most peaceful), Shani Pradosh (Saturday, most powerful for karmic relief), and Guru Pradosh (Thursday, for wisdom and ancestral blessings) are the most sought-after. Attending a Shiva temple during Pradosh Kaal — when the priest performs abhishekam with Vedic chanting — is considered equivalent to the merit of a full personal puja.