Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 1968
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
April 1968
Kollam Era 1143
Meenam – Medam
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 1968 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 34 dates in 1968, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 5 January and closing with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 30 December. Of these, 15 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 5 dates. The year runs through Kollam Era 1143 – 1144.
January 1968 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 11 Jan | Thu |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 14 Jan | Sun |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 15 Jan | Mon |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Jan | Tue |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Krishna Pratipada |
February 1968 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Feb | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 5 Feb | Mon |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 16 Feb | Fri |
Attukal Pongala Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
| 26 Feb | Mon |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1968 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
April 1968 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 13 Apr | Sat |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 1968 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 May | Wed |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Dashami |
June 1968 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
July 1968 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Jul | Thu | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 30 Jul | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1968 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Ashtami |
| 8 Aug | Thu |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Aug | Fri |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 29 Aug | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
September 1968 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep | Wed |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
| 23 Sep | Mon |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
October 1968 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct | Tue |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 21 Oct | Mon |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 Oct | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
November 1968 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 Ekadashi |
| 25 Nov | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Nov | Mon |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 30 Nov | Sat | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
December 1968 Vrischikam – Dhanu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec | Sun |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 24 Dec | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Dec | Mon |
Vaikunta Ekadashi The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Malayalam Calendar in 1968
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 1968, covering Kollam Era 1143 – 1144. 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 1968 | 14 Jan 1968 | 14 |
| Makaram | 15 Jan 1968 | 12 Feb 1968 | 29 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 1968 | 13 Mar 1968 | 30 |
| Meenam | 14 Mar 1968 | 13 Apr 1968 | 31 |
| Medam | 14 Apr 1968 | 14 May 1968 | 31 |
| Edavam | 15 May 1968 | 14 Jun 1968 | 31 |
| Mithunam | 15 Jun 1968 | 15 Jul 1968 | 31 |
| Karkidakam | 16 Jul 1968 | 16 Aug 1968 | 32 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 1968 | 16 Sep 1968 | 31 |
| Kanni | 17 Sep 1968 | 16 Oct 1968 | 30 |
| Thulam | 17 Oct 1968 | 15 Nov 1968 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 16 Nov 1968 | 15 Dec 1968 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 16 Dec 1968 | 31 Dec 1968 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1968
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 1968 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) fell on 15 January, 1 day later in the year than in 1967 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1968
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 4:29 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Meenam Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 13 Apr 10:17 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Vishu | Meenam Purnima | Not visible |
| 22 Sep 4:48 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Navratri (Saraswathi Puja) | Kanni Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 6 Oct 5:11 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Kanni Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1968
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 7:20 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Meena → Mesha |
| 28 Sep 9:10 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Mesha → Meena re-entry while retrograde |
| 12 Oct 6:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Meena on 12 January 1968, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 1968
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 1968?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 34 dates in 1968, of which 15 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Friday, 5 January 1968, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Monday, 30 December 1968.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 1968?
The first major observances of 1968 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Thursday, 11 January 1968
- Thiruvathira - Sunday, 14 January 1968
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Monday, 15 January 1968
- Thaipusam - Tuesday, 16 January 1968
- Ratha Saptami - Monday, 5 February 1968
- Attukal Pongala - Friday, 16 February 1968
Which month of 1968 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
January 1968 is the fullest month with 5 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Thiruvathira, Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti), Thaipusam.
Which traditional year does 1968 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1968 spans Kollam Era 1143 – 1144. 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 1968 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1968 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 1968?
1968 had 4 eclipses:
- 29 March 1968 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 13 April 1968 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 22 September 1968 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 6 October 1968 - 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 1968?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1968:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Mesha on 17 June 1968
- Shani (Saturn) entered Meena on 28 September 1968, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kanya on 12 October 1968
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 1968?
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.
