Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 1956
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
February 1956
Kollam Era 1131
Makaram – Kumbham
Timings shown for New Delhi (IST) at sunrise - use the city box at the top to change it. Solar months begin by each tradition's own Sankranti rule (same-day, next-day, sunset or aparahna). Era years and lunar month names follow standard Vedic calculations and may differ slightly from regional almanacs around an Adhik Maas.
Malayalam Calendar 1956 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 28 dates in 1956, opening with Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) on 14 January and closing with Dhanurmasam Begins on 15 December. Of these, 13 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Kollam Era 1131 – 1132.
January 1956 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 18 Jan | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Jan | Fri |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
February 1956 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 18 Feb | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
March 1956 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar | Sat |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 17 Mar | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 1956 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr | Fri |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 16 Apr | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 21 Apr | Sat |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
May 1956 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
June 1956 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
July 1956 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1956 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Aug | Mon | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 11 Aug | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 17 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 20 Aug | Mon |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 21 Aug | Tue |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 29 Aug | Wed |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
September 1956 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Sep | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 1956 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct | Fri |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 14 Oct | Sun |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 1956 Thulam – Vrischikam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov | Fri |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 16 Nov | Fri |
Mandala Pooja Begins The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
December 1956 Vrischikam – Dhanu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Dec | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 8 Dec | Sat |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 14 Dec | Fri | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 15 Dec | Sat |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
Months of the Malayalam Calendar in 1956
The Malayalam Calendar does not begin its year on 1 January, so each of its months straddles two Gregorian ones. These are the months that ran through 1956, covering Kollam Era 1131 – 1132. A month marked part is one the Gregorian year cuts short at its own start or end.
| Month | Begins | Ends | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanu part | 1 Jan 1956 | 14 Jan 1956 | 14 |
| Makaram | 15 Jan 1956 | 12 Feb 1956 | 29 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 1956 | 13 Mar 1956 | 30 |
| Meenam | 14 Mar 1956 | 13 Apr 1956 | 31 |
| Medam | 14 Apr 1956 | 14 May 1956 | 31 |
| Edavam | 15 May 1956 | 14 Jun 1956 | 31 |
| Mithunam | 15 Jun 1956 | 15 Jul 1956 | 31 |
| Karkidakam | 16 Jul 1956 | 16 Aug 1956 | 32 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 1956 | 16 Sep 1956 | 31 |
| Kanni | 17 Sep 1956 | 16 Oct 1956 | 30 |
| Thulam | 17 Oct 1956 | 15 Nov 1956 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 16 Nov 1956 | 15 Dec 1956 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 16 Dec 1956 | 31 Dec 1956 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1956
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 1956 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Thaipusam fell on 27 January, 10 days earlier in the year than in 1955 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1956
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 9:01 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Edavam Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 9 Jun 2:50 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Edavam Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 18 Nov 12:17 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 2 days after Mandala Pooja Begins | Vrischikam Purnima | Not visible |
| 2 Dec 1:30 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vrischikam Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1956
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 4:00 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Karka re-entry while retrograde |
| 22 May 9:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Karka → Simha |
| 28 Oct 10:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 1956
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 1956?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 28 dates in 1956, of which 13 are vrats. The first is Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) on Saturday, 14 January 1956, and the last is Dhanurmasam Begins on Saturday, 15 December 1956.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 1956?
The first major observances of 1956 are:
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Saturday, 14 January 1956
- Thaipusam - Friday, 27 January 1956
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 18 February 1956
- Maha Shivaratri - Saturday, 10 March 1956
- Vishu - Friday, 13 April 1956
- Thrissur Pooram - Saturday, 21 April 1956
Which month of 1956 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
August 1956 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Karkidaka Vavu Bali, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Onam (Thiruvonam), Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini).
Which traditional year does 1956 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1956 spans Kollam Era 1131 – 1132. The traditional year does not begin on 1 January, so one Gregorian year usually covers the end of one era year and the start of the next.
Did 1956 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1956 had twelve lunar months with no Adhik Maas, so its festival dates fall in their usual Gregorian window rather than being pushed later by an intercalary month.
Were there any eclipses in 1956?
1956 had 4 eclipses:
- 24 May 1956 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 9 June 1956 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 18 November 1956 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 2 December 1956 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1956?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1956:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Karka on 14 March 1956, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Simha on 22 May 1956
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kanya on 28 October 1956
Jupiter takes about a year to cross one sign and Saturn about two and a half, so these transits colour the whole year rather than a single week.
How do I see the tithi and nakshatra for a specific date in 1956?
Use the month grid above: pick a month from the selector, then tap any day to open its full panchang - tithi with start and end times, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sunrise and sunset, and the inauspicious periods (Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika Kalam). Set your city in the box at the top first, because these timings are sunrise-based and shift with location. The Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era opens on the current month.
About the Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
Each day lists its tithi and paksha, the nakshatra, the weekday (vaar) and any festivals or vrats. Tap any day to see the full panchang for that date - tithi start and end times, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sunrise and sunset, and the inauspicious periods (Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika Kalam). Use the month and year selectors to browse any year in the archive or plan ahead into the coming years.
This calendar names the tithi and festivals for each day. For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and muhurat windows on a chosen date, open the Panchang. Other regional calendars are on the Calendars index. Fast stories live under Vrat Katha.
