Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 1963
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
December 1963
Kollam Era 1139
Vrischikam – Dhanu
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 1963 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 34 dates in 1963, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 1 January and closing with Thiruvathira on 30 December. Of these, 15 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 5 dates. The year runs through Kollam Era 1138 – 1139. 1963 carries an Adhik Maas (Kartika (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1963 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 6 Jan | Sun |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 14 Jan | Mon |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Panchami |
| 30 Jan | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 31 Jan | Thu |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1963 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | Thu |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 22 Feb | Fri |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 28 Feb | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
March 1963 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar | Sun |
Attukal Pongala Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 30 Mar | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
April 1963 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr | Sun |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Krishna Panchami |
| 28 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
May 1963 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May | Fri |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 28 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
June 1963 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
July 1963 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul | Sat | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1963 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dwadashi |
| 5 Aug | Mon |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 12 Aug | Mon |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 24 Aug | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
September 1963 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Mon |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 18 Sep | Wed |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 23 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Sep | Sat |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
October 1963 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct | Wed |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 23 Oct | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
November 1963 Thulam – Vrischikam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov | Sat |
Mandala Pooja Begins The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 27 Nov | Wed | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
December 1963 Vrischikam – Dhanu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec | Mon |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Dec | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 22 Dec | Sun |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Dec | Thu |
Vaikunta Ekadashi The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 30 Dec | Mon |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Shukla Purnima |
Months of the Malayalam Calendar in 1963
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 1963, covering Kollam Era 1138 – 1139. 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 1963 | 14 Jan 1963 | 14 |
| Makaram | 15 Jan 1963 | 12 Feb 1963 | 29 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 1963 | 14 Mar 1963 | 30 |
| Meenam | 15 Mar 1963 | 13 Apr 1963 | 30 |
| Medam | 14 Apr 1963 | 14 May 1963 | 31 |
| Edavam | 15 May 1963 | 15 Jun 1963 | 32 |
| Mithunam | 16 Jun 1963 | 16 Jul 1963 | 31 |
| Karkidakam | 17 Jul 1963 | 16 Aug 1963 | 31 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 1963 | 16 Sep 1963 | 31 |
| Kanni | 17 Sep 1963 | 17 Oct 1963 | 31 |
| Thulam | 18 Oct 1963 | 16 Nov 1963 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 17 Nov 1963 | 15 Dec 1963 | 29 |
| Dhanu part | 16 Dec 1963 | 31 Dec 1963 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1963
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 1963 brought 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Kartika, running from 18 October 1963 to 16 November 1963. Ratha Saptami fell on 31 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1962 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1963
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 4:49 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Dhanu Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 25 Jan 7:06 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Makaram Amavasya | Not visible |
| 7 Jul 3:32 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Mithunam Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 21 Jul 2:05 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Karkidakam Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 30 Dec 4:36 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Thiruvathira | Dhanu Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1963
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 6:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mithuna on 19 May 1963, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 1963
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 1963?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 34 dates in 1963, of which 15 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Tuesday, 1 January 1963, and the last is Thiruvathira on Monday, 30 December 1963.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 1963?
The first major observances of 1963 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Sunday, 6 January 1963
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Monday, 14 January 1963
- Ratha Saptami - Thursday, 31 January 1963
- Thaipusam - Thursday, 7 February 1963
- Maha Shivaratri - Friday, 22 February 1963
- Attukal Pongala - Sunday, 10 March 1963
Which month of 1963 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
January 1963 is the fullest month with 5 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti), Ratha Saptami.
Which traditional year does 1963 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1963 spans Kollam Era 1138 – 1139. 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 1963 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1963 carried an Adhik Maas (Kartika (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 1963 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1963?
1963 had 5 eclipses:
- 10 January 1963 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 25 January 1963 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 7 July 1963 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 21 July 1963 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 30 December 1963 - Total 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 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1963?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1963:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 7 March 1963
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 1963?
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.


