Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 2017
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
March 2017
Kollam Era 1192
Kumbham – Meenam
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 2017 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 35 dates in 2017, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 3 January and closing with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 29 December. Of these, 16 are vrats (fasting observances). February is the fullest month with 5 dates. The year runs through Kollam Era 1192 – 1193.
January 2017 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 Jan | Sun |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 11 Jan | Wed |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
February 2017 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 3 Feb | Fri |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 10 Feb | Fri |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 13 Feb | Mon |
Attukal Pongala Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham. |
Krishna Tritiya |
| 24 Feb | Fri |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2017 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 2017 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 14 Apr | Fri |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Krishna Tritiya |
May 2017 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 5 May | Fri |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 30 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 2017 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
July 2017 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul | Sun | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 28 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2017 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dwadashi |
| 7 Aug | Mon |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 15 Aug | Tue |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 27 Aug | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
September 2017 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep | Mon |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 21 Sep | Thu |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 25 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Sep | Sat |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
October 2017 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct | Thu |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 25 Oct | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
November 2017 Thulam – Vrischikam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov | Thu |
Mandala Pooja Begins The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 24 Nov | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 24 Nov | Fri |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 30 Nov | Thu | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
December 2017 Vrischikam – Dhanu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec | Sat |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 24 Dec | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 29 Dec | Fri |
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 2017
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 2017, covering Kollam Era 1192 – 1193. 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 2017 | 13 Jan 2017 | 13 |
| Makaram | 14 Jan 2017 | 12 Feb 2017 | 30 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 2017 | 14 Mar 2017 | 30 |
| Meenam | 15 Mar 2017 | 13 Apr 2017 | 30 |
| Medam | 14 Apr 2017 | 14 May 2017 | 31 |
| Edavam | 15 May 2017 | 14 Jun 2017 | 31 |
| Mithunam | 15 Jun 2017 | 16 Jul 2017 | 32 |
| Karkidakam | 17 Jul 2017 | 16 Aug 2017 | 31 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 2017 | 16 Sep 2017 | 31 |
| Kanni | 17 Sep 2017 | 16 Oct 2017 | 30 |
| Thulam | 17 Oct 2017 | 15 Nov 2017 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 16 Nov 2017 | 15 Dec 2017 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 16 Dec 2017 | 31 Dec 2017 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2017
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 2017 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Ratha Saptami fell on 3 February, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2016 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2017
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 6:13 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Thaipusam | Makaram Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 26 Feb 8:23 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivaratri | Kumbham Amavasya | Not visible |
| 7 Aug 11:50 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Avani Avittam (Upakarma) | Karkidakam Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 21 Aug 11:55 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Chingam Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2017
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jan 7:40 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
| 21 Jun 4:40 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Dhanu → Vrishchika re-entry while retrograde |
| 12 Sep 7:00 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Tula |
| 26 Oct 3:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 18 August 2017, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 2017
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 2017?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 35 dates in 2017, of which 16 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Tuesday, 3 January 2017, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Friday, 29 December 2017.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 2017?
The first major observances of 2017 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Sunday, 8 January 2017
- Thiruvathira - Wednesday, 11 January 2017
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Saturday, 14 January 2017
- Ratha Saptami - Friday, 3 February 2017
- Thaipusam - Friday, 10 February 2017
- Attukal Pongala - Monday, 13 February 2017
Which month of 2017 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
February 2017 is the fullest month with 5 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Ratha Saptami, Thaipusam, Attukal Pongala, Maha Shivaratri.
Which traditional year does 2017 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2017 spans Kollam Era 1192 – 1193. 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 2017 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2017 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 2017?
2017 had 4 eclipses:
- 11 February 2017 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 26 February 2017 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 7 August 2017 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 21 August 2017 - Total solar eclipse (Surya 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 2017?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2017:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 26 January 2017
- Shani (Saturn) entered Vrishchika on 21 June 2017, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Tula on 12 September 2017
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 26 October 2017
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 2017?
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.
