Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 1961
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
May 1961
Kollam Era 1136
Medam – Edavam
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 1961 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 32 dates in 1961, opening with Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) on 14 January and closing with Thiruvathira on 22 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). December is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Kollam Era 1136 – 1137. 1961 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1961 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. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 21 Jan | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 23 Jan | Mon |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 31 Jan | Tue |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
February 1961 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb | Mon |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 20 Feb | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
March 1961 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Fri |
Attukal Pongala Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 21 Mar | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 1961 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr | Thu |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 20 Apr | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 26 Apr | Wed |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
May 1961 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
June 1961 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
July 1961 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1961 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug | Fri | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 17 Aug | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Aug | Fri |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 25 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 26 Aug | Sat |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 1961 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Sat |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 15 Sep | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 1961 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct | Tue |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 19 Oct | Thu |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 1961 Thulam – Vrischikam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov | Tue |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 13 Nov | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 16 Nov | Thu |
Mandala Pooja Begins The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika. |
Shukla Navami |
December 1961 Vrischikam – Dhanu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 13 Dec | Wed |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 16 Dec | Sat |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Navami |
| 17 Dec | Sun |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 18 Dec | Mon | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 22 Dec | Fri |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Krishna Pratipada |
Months of the Malayalam Calendar in 1961
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 1961, covering Kollam Era 1136 – 1137. 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 1961 | 13 Jan 1961 | 13 |
| Makaram | 14 Jan 1961 | 12 Feb 1961 | 30 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 1961 | 14 Mar 1961 | 30 |
| Meenam | 15 Mar 1961 | 13 Apr 1961 | 30 |
| Medam | 14 Apr 1961 | 14 May 1961 | 31 |
| Edavam | 15 May 1961 | 14 Jun 1961 | 31 |
| Mithunam | 15 Jun 1961 | 16 Jul 1961 | 32 |
| Karkidakam | 17 Jul 1961 | 16 Aug 1961 | 31 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 1961 | 16 Sep 1961 | 31 |
| Kanni | 17 Sep 1961 | 16 Oct 1961 | 30 |
| Thulam | 17 Oct 1961 | 15 Nov 1961 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 16 Nov 1961 | 15 Dec 1961 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 16 Dec 1961 | 31 Dec 1961 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1961
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 1961 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Jyeshtha, running from 15 May 1961 to 13 June 1961. Ratha Saptami fell on 23 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1960 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1961
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 1:49 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivaratri | Kumbham Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 2 Mar 6:58 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day before Attukal Pongala | Kumbham Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Aug 4:16 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Karkidakam Amavasya | Not visible |
| 26 Aug 8:38 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Avani Avittam (Upakarma) | Chingam Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 3 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1961
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 12:10 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Dhanu → Makara |
| 10 Feb 11:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Makara |
| 17 Sep 10:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Makara → Dhanu re-entry while retrograde |
| 8 Oct 2:50 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Dhanu → Makara |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 30 October 1961, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 1961
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 1961?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 32 dates in 1961, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) on Saturday, 14 January 1961, and the last is Thiruvathira on Friday, 22 December 1961.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 1961?
The first major observances of 1961 are:
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Saturday, 14 January 1961
- Ratha Saptami - Monday, 23 January 1961
- Thaipusam - Tuesday, 31 January 1961
- Maha Shivaratri - Monday, 13 February 1961
- Attukal Pongala - Friday, 3 March 1961
- Vishu - Thursday, 13 April 1961
Which month of 1961 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
December 1961 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Subramanya Shashti, Dhanurmasam Begins, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Guruvayur Ekadashi, Thiruvathira.
Which traditional year does 1961 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1961 spans Kollam Era 1136 – 1137. 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 1961 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1961 carried an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month inserted roughly every third year to keep the lunar calendar in step with the solar one. Festivals falling after it shift later in the Gregorian year, which is why 1961 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1961?
1961 had 4 eclipses:
- 15 February 1961 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 2 March 1961 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 11 August 1961 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 26 August 1961 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 3 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1961?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1961:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Makara on 2 February 1961
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 10 February 1961
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 17 September 1961, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Makara on 8 October 1961
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 1961?
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.
