Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 2023
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
April 2023
Kollam Era 1198
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 2023 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 33 dates in 2023, opening with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 2 January and closing with Thiruvathira on 27 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). December is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Kollam Era 1198 – 1199. 2023 carries an Adhik Maas (Shravana (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 2023 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan | Mon |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 15 Jan | Sun |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 26 Jan | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Jan | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 2023 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb | Sun |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 18 Feb | Sat |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 25 Feb | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
March 2023 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar | Tue |
Attukal Pongala Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 26 Mar | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 2023 Meenam – Medam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr | Fri |
Vishu The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year. |
Krishna Navami |
| 25 Apr | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
May 2023 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | Mon |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 25 May | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
June 2023 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
July 2023 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul | Mon | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 23 Jul | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2023 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Navami |
| 29 Aug | Tue |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 31 Aug | Thu |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 2023 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep | Thu |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 20 Sep | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 2023 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct | Sun |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 24 Oct | Tue |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 2023 Thulam – Vrischikam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov | Sun |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 17 Nov | Fri |
Mandala Pooja Begins The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 18 Nov | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
December 2023 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. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 18 Dec | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 18 Dec | Mon |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 22 Dec | Fri |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 23 Dec | Sat | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 27 Dec | Wed |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Krishna Pratipada |
Months of the Malayalam Calendar in 2023
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 2023, covering Kollam Era 1198 – 1199. 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 2023 | 14 Jan 2023 | 14 |
| Makaram | 15 Jan 2023 | 12 Feb 2023 | 29 |
| Kumbham | 13 Feb 2023 | 14 Mar 2023 | 30 |
| Meenam | 15 Mar 2023 | 14 Apr 2023 | 31 |
| Medam | 15 Apr 2023 | 14 May 2023 | 30 |
| Edavam | 15 May 2023 | 15 Jun 2023 | 32 |
| Mithunam | 16 Jun 2023 | 16 Jul 2023 | 31 |
| Karkidakam | 17 Jul 2023 | 16 Aug 2023 | 31 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 2023 | 17 Sep 2023 | 32 |
| Kanni | 18 Sep 2023 | 17 Oct 2023 | 30 |
| Thulam | 18 Oct 2023 | 16 Nov 2023 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 17 Nov 2023 | 16 Dec 2023 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 17 Dec 2023 | 31 Dec 2023 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 2023
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 2023 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Shravana, running from 18 July 2023 to 16 August 2023. Vaikunta Ekadashi fell on 2 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2022 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2023
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 9:46 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Medam Amavasya | Not visible |
| 5 May 10:53 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Medam Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 14 Oct 11:29 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Navratri (Saraswathi Puja) | Kanni Amavasya | Not visible |
| 29 Oct 1:44 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Thulam Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2023
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 6:10 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Makara → Kumbha |
| 22 Apr 5:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Meena on 30 October 2023, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 2023
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 2023?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 33 dates in 2023, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Monday, 2 January 2023, and the last is Thiruvathira on Wednesday, 27 December 2023.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 2023?
The first major observances of 2023 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Monday, 2 January 2023
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Sunday, 15 January 2023
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 28 January 2023
- Thaipusam - Sunday, 5 February 2023
- Maha Shivaratri - Saturday, 18 February 2023
- Attukal Pongala - Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Which month of 2023 has the most observances in the Malayalam Calendar?
December 2023 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Dhanurmasam Begins, Skanda Shashthi, Subramanya Shashti, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Guruvayur Ekadashi, Thiruvathira.
Which traditional year does 2023 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2023 spans Kollam Era 1198 – 1199. 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 2023 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 2023 carried an Adhik Maas (Shravana (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 2023 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 2023?
2023 had 4 eclipses:
- 20 April 2023 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 5 May 2023 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 14 October 2023 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 29 October 2023 - Partial 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 1 of these was kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2023?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2023:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Kumbha on 17 January 2023
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 22 April 2023
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 2023?
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.
