Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 2021
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
January 2021
Kollam Era 1196
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 2021 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 31 dates in 2021, opening with Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) on 14 January and closing with Thiruvathira on 20 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Kollam Era 1196 – 1197.
January 2021 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Thu |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 18 Jan | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Jan | Thu |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
February 2021 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 19 Feb | Fri |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 28 Feb | Sun |
Attukal Pongala Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham. |
Krishna Pratipada |
March 2021 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar | Thu |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 19 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
April 2021 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr | Wed |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 18 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 24 Apr | Sat |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
May 2021 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 2021 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
July 2021 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2021 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug | Sun | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 13 Aug | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 20 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Trayodashi |
| 21 Aug | Sat |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 22 Aug | Sun |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 30 Aug | Mon |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
September 2021 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 2021 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct | Thu |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 15 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 2021 Thulam – Vrischikam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov | Thu |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 9 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 16 Nov | Tue |
Mandala Pooja Begins The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
December 2021 Vrischikam – Dhanu
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 9 Dec | Thu |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 14 Dec | Tue | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 16 Dec | Thu |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 20 Dec | Mon |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Krishna Pratipada |
Months of the Malayalam Calendar in 2021
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 2021, covering Kollam Era 1196 – 1197. 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 2021 | 13 Jan 2021 | 13 |
| Makaram | 14 Jan 2021 | 12 Feb 2021 | 30 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 2021 | 14 Mar 2021 | 30 |
| Meenam | 15 Mar 2021 | 13 Apr 2021 | 30 |
| Medam | 14 Apr 2021 | 14 May 2021 | 31 |
| Edavam | 15 May 2021 | 14 Jun 2021 | 31 |
| Mithunam | 15 Jun 2021 | 16 Jul 2021 | 32 |
| Karkidakam | 17 Jul 2021 | 16 Aug 2021 | 31 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 2021 | 16 Sep 2021 | 31 |
| Kanni | 17 Sep 2021 | 16 Oct 2021 | 30 |
| Thulam | 17 Oct 2021 | 15 Nov 2021 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 16 Nov 2021 | 15 Dec 2021 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 16 Dec 2021 | 31 Dec 2021 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2021
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 2021 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) fell on 14 January, 1 day earlier in the year than in 2020 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2021
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 4:48 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Edavam Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 10 Jun 4:11 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Edavam Amavasya | Not visible |
| 19 Nov 2:32 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 3 days after Mandala Pooja Begins | Vrischikam Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 4 Dec 1:03 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vrischikam Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2021
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 12:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
| 14 Sep 2:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Makara re-entry while retrograde |
| 20 Nov 11:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 2021
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 2021?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 31 dates in 2021, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) on Thursday, 14 January 2021, and the last is Thiruvathira on Monday, 20 December 2021.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 2021?
The first major observances of 2021 are:
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Thursday, 14 January 2021
- Thaipusam - Thursday, 28 January 2021
- Ratha Saptami - Friday, 19 February 2021
- Attukal Pongala - Sunday, 28 February 2021
- Maha Shivaratri - Thursday, 11 March 2021
- Vishu - Wednesday, 14 April 2021
Which month of 2021 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
August 2021 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Karkidaka Vavu Bali, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Onam (Thiruvonam), Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini).
Which traditional year does 2021 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2021 spans Kollam Era 1196 – 1197. 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 2021 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2021 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 2021?
2021 had 4 eclipses:
- 26 May 2021 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 10 June 2021 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 19 November 2021 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 4 December 2021 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
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 2021?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2021:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 6 April 2021
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 14 September 2021, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 20 November 2021
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 2021?
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.
