Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 1987
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
January 1987
Kollam Era 1162
Dhanu – Makaram
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 1987 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 34 dates in 1987, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 4 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 1162 – 1163.
January 1987 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 10 Jan | Sat |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 14 Jan | Wed |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 14 Jan | Wed |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Jan | Fri |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Krishna Pratipada |
February 1987 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 5 Feb | Thu |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 15 Feb | Sun |
Attukal Pongala Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
| 26 Feb | Thu |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1987 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
April 1987 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 14 Apr | Tue |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 1987 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 May | Fri |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Dashami |
June 1987 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
July 1987 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Jul | Sat | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 31 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1987 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Trayodashi |
| 9 Aug | Sun |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Aug | Sun |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 30 Aug | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
September 1987 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep | Sat |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
| 24 Sep | Thu |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
October 1987 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 22 Oct | Thu |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 27 Oct | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
November 1987 Thulam – Vrischikam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov | Tue |
Mandala Pooja Begins The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 26 Nov | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Nov | Thu |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 1987 Vrischikam – Dhanu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | Tue | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 16 Dec | Wed |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Dec | Wed |
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 1987
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 1987, covering Kollam Era 1162 – 1163. 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 1987 | 14 Jan 1987 | 14 |
| Makaram | 15 Jan 1987 | 12 Feb 1987 | 29 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 1987 | 14 Mar 1987 | 30 |
| Meenam | 15 Mar 1987 | 14 Apr 1987 | 31 |
| Medam | 15 Apr 1987 | 15 May 1987 | 31 |
| Edavam | 16 May 1987 | 15 Jun 1987 | 31 |
| Mithunam | 16 Jun 1987 | 16 Jul 1987 | 31 |
| Karkidakam | 17 Jul 1987 | 17 Aug 1987 | 32 |
| Chingam | 18 Aug 1987 | 17 Sep 1987 | 31 |
| Kanni | 18 Sep 1987 | 17 Oct 1987 | 30 |
| Thulam | 18 Oct 1987 | 16 Nov 1987 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 17 Nov 1987 | 16 Dec 1987 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 17 Dec 1987 | 31 Dec 1987 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 1987
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 1987 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Thaipusam fell on 16 January, 10 days earlier in the year than in 1986 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1987
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 6:18 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Meenam Amavasya | Not visible |
| 14 Apr 7:48 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Vishu | Meenam Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 23 Sep 8:41 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Navratri (Saraswathi Puja) | Kanni Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 7 Oct 9:31 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Kanni Purnima | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1987
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1:10 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 16 Jun 9:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
| 26 Oct 4:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mesha → Meena re-entry while retrograde |
| 17 Dec 3:00 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 1987
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 1987?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 34 dates in 1987, of which 15 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Sunday, 4 January 1987, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Wednesday, 30 December 1987.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 1987?
The first major observances of 1987 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Saturday, 10 January 1987
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Wednesday, 14 January 1987
- Thiruvathira - Wednesday, 14 January 1987
- Thaipusam - Friday, 16 January 1987
- Ratha Saptami - Thursday, 5 February 1987
- Attukal Pongala - Sunday, 15 February 1987
Which month of 1987 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
January 1987 is the fullest month with 5 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti), Thiruvathira, Thaipusam.
Which traditional year does 1987 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1987 spans Kollam Era 1162 – 1163. 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 1987 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1987 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 1987?
1987 had 4 eclipses:
- 29 March 1987 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 14 April 1987 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 23 September 1987 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 7 October 1987 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 1 of these was kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1987?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1987:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 3 February 1987
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 16 June 1987
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 26 October 1987, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 17 December 1987
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 1987?
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.
