New Delhi : "Shravan" or "/Sawan" is a month of the Hindu calendar . In India's National Civil Calendar , Shravan is the fifth month of the Hindu year , beginning in the late July and ending in the 3rd week of August . Shravan begins with the Sun's entry in Leo.

Shravan is considered to be a holy month in the Hindu calendar due to many festivals that are celebrated during this time . "Krishna Janmashtami"  , making the birth of Krishna , falls on the 8th day after the full moon and is celebrated with great pomp and show all across the world . "Raksha Bandhan" , the festival of brothers and sisters , is celebrated on Shravana Poornima . "Nag Panchami" is also celebrated in many parts of India on the 5th day after Amavasya of Shravan month . 

The "Kanvad Yatra" is an annual pilgrimage of devotees of Lord Shiva , known as "Kaanvadias" to Hindu places of Haridwar , Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges river , Ganga Jal , which is later offered to their local Shiva temples . The Yatra takes place during the sacred month of Sawan / Shravan (July-August) .

The month of Sawan is dedicated to Lord Shiva and most devotees observe a fast on Monday's during the month , as it also falls during the Chaturmas period , traditionally set aside for religious pilgrimages , bathing in holy rivers and penance . 

Smaller pilgrimages are also undertaken to places like Allahabad and Varanasi . Sawan Mela is a major festival at Deoghar in  Jharkhand , where thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water , from the ganges at Sultanganj in Bihar , covering a distance of 105 kms. on foot-bare footed . 

Once the pilgrims reach their hometown , thw Ganges water is used to bathe the Shivalingam on the Amavasya (New Moon) day in the Sawan month or Mas Shivaratri day .

Report By- Shruti Sharma