Ravi Pradoṣam is a Pradoṣam that falls on a Sunday, the day of Sūrya. In jyotiṣa Sūrya governs the body, vitality and the ātman, so on this Pradoṣam devotees ask Śiva for good health, recovery from illness and long life, and some hold that it guards against untimely death. The day is framed by worship, with the rising Sun honoured in the morning and Śiva at dusk. How the day is fixed: Ravi Pradoṣam is a Pradoṣam day, one with Trayodaśī prevailing at local sunset, that falls on a Sunday. It can come in either fortnight. Keep in mind: The Sunday brings a link with Sūrya but no separate kathā or rule. The Pradoṣam itself is kept exactly as on any other weekday. This year: The 2026 date shown here is worked out from sunrise at the place you chose, so in another city the same day can fall a day earlier or later. Morning worship of Sūrya: Many begin the day with Sūrya namaskāra or an arghya of water to the rising Sun, and some recite the Āditya Hṛdayam. In Śiva temples some circle the Navagraha shrine and bow to Sūrya at its centre. The fast: The day is spent fasting or on fruit and milk, as on any Pradoṣam. Abhiṣeka at dusk: In the Pradoṣa kāla around sunset, abhiṣeka is offered to Nandi and the liṅga, and devotees take darśana with prayers for recovery and for the long life of the elders of the house. The fast is broken the same night. Worth remembering: Worship of Sūrya is a personal addition on this Sunday, not part of the Pradoṣam rule, which centres on Śiva's dusk abhiṣeka. Soma Pradoṣam on a Monday and Śani Pradoṣam on a Saturday are separate days with their own emphasis. Telugu and Kannada homes often add the Āditya Hṛdayam, Tamil devotees bow to the Navagraha Sūrya in the Śiva temple, and Marathi and Gujarati households offer water to the Sun before the evening abhiṣeka. Whether one keeps a full fast or phalāhāra, and whether the morning worship is added at all, depends on family custom. Follow the elders of one's own house.
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