Mangala Gauri vrat is observed every Tuesday during the holy month of Shravan in honour of Maa Mangala Gauri, a divine form of Mata Parvati. In North India, the first Mangala Gauri vrat will be observed on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. In Maharashtra, Gujarat, and South India, where the Amanta calendar is followed, the first Mangala Gauri vrat will be observed on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
If you have noticed people celebrating the Mangala Gauri vrat on different dates, there's a simple reason: not every region follows the same lunar calendar. In North Indian, states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh follow the Purnimant calendar, where the lunar month ends on the Full Moon (Purnima). This puts Shravan 2026 between Thursday, 30 July and Friday, 28 August, and the first Mangala Gauri vrat falls on Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
Meanwhile, states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and various other southern regions follow the Amanta calendar. As per this calendar, the lunar month ends on Amavasya (New Moon). Here, Shravan 2026 runs from Thursday, 13 August to Friday, 11 September, pushing the first Mangala Gauri vrat to Tuesday, 18 August 2026.
Anyone seeking Maa Parvati's blessings can observe this vrat, though it holds particular meaning for a few groups of devotees:
At its core, though, this vrat is open to anyone who wants to grow closer to Maa Mangala Gauri, regardless of which of these situations fits them.
Mangala Gauri vrat puja is generally performed in the evening after observing the fast throughout the day. Some women keep a strict fast and avoid salt completely. Others stick to fruits, milk, and simple vrat foods, depending on their health and family tradition.
If you are performing the puja at home, follow these simple steps:
Customs can differ a little from family to family, but a few practices are widely followed during this vrat:
No. Some devotees keep the fast every Tuesday, while others manage just one or two, depending on health, family custom, or simply what's practical for them.
This vrat is dedicated to Maa Mangala Gauri, a divine form of Mata Parvati.
The first Mangala Gauri vrat will be observed on 4 August 2026 in North India. Meanwhile, in the South, it will be on 18 August 2026.
There's no restriction against it. Even though women observe this vrat, men can do the same.