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.
January 2023 Dhanu – Makaram
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Vaikunta Ekadashi
Tithi 7:08 PM, Jan 1 – 8:20 PM, Jan 2
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil.
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Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti)
Tithi 7:28 PM, Jan 14 – 7:52 PM
The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 10:07 AM, Jan 26 – 9:10 AM, Jan 27
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Ratha Saptami
Tithi 8:48 AM, Jan 27 – 8:43 AM, Jan 28
Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami.
February 2023 Makaram – Kumbham
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Thaipusam
Tithi 9:30 PM, Feb 4 – 11:59 PM, Feb 5
Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai.
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Maha Shivaratri
Tithi 11:37 PM, Feb 17 – 8:05 PM, Feb 18
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 12:29 AM, Feb 25 – 12:06 AM, Feb 26
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
March 2023 Kumbham – Meenam
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Attukal Pongala
Tithi 4:20 PM, Mar 6 – 6:12 PM, Mar 7
Lakhs of women cook pongala for the Attukal Bhagavathy on the Pooram star of the month of Kumbham.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 4:26 PM, Mar 26 – 5:24 PM, Mar 27
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
April 2023 Meenam – Medam
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Vishu
Tithi 1:35 AM, Apr 14 – 11:17 PM, Apr 14
The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 9:31 AM, Apr 25 – 11:27 AM, Apr 26
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
May 2023 Medam – Edavam
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Thrissur Pooram
Tithi 8:30 PM, Apr 30 – 10:16 PM, May 1
Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 3:01 AM, May 25 – 5:15 AM, May 26
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Vijayadashami (Vidyarambham)
Tithi 11:58 AM, May 29 – 1:10 PM, May 30
Children are initiated into learning on Vijayadashami.
June 2023 Edavam – Mithunam
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 7:54 PM, Jun 23 – 10:19 PM, Jun 24
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
July 2023 Mithunam – Karkidakam
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Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat
Tithi 10:07 PM, Jul 16 – 11:57 PM, Jul 17
Keralites offer Vavu Bali (tarpan) to their ancestors on the new moon of Karkidakam.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 11:51 AM, Jul 23 – 1:44 PM, Jul 24
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
August 2023 Karkidakam – Chingam
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 2:01 AM, Aug 22 – 3:19 AM, Aug 23
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat
Tithi 3:11 AM, Aug 25 – 2:21 AM, Aug 26
Married women worship Goddess Lakshmi on the Friday before the full moon for the family's well-being.
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Onam (Thiruvonam)
Tithi 6:26 PM, Aug 28 – 2:50 PM, Aug 29
Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races.
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Avani Avittam (Upakarma)
Tithi 10:57 AM, Aug 30 – 7:05 AM, Aug 31
Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima.
September 2023 Chingam – Kanni
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Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini)
Tithi 3:30 PM, Sep 6 – 4:11 PM, Sep 7
The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 2:24 PM, Sep 20 – 2:17 PM, Sep 21
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
October 2023 Kanni – Thulam
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Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
Tithi 11:26 PM, Oct 14 – 12:39 AM, Oct 16
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham.
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Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tithi 5:47 PM, Oct 23 – 3:15 PM, Oct 24
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.
November 2023 Thulam – Vrischikam
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Deepavali
Tithi 2:06 PM, Nov 11 – 2:47 PM, Nov 12
The festival of lights.
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Mandala Pooja Begins
Tithi 12:40 PM, Nov 16 – 11:04 AM
The 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa season begins as the Sun enters Vrischika.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 9:22 AM, Nov 18 – 7:23 AM, Nov 19
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
December 2023 Vrischikam – Dhanu
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Dhanurmasam Begins
Tithi 10:31 PM, Dec 15 – 8:00 PM, Dec 16
The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu.
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Subramanya Shashti
Tithi 5:31 PM, Dec 17 – 3:13 PM, Dec 18
Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 5:31 PM, Dec 17 – 3:13 PM, Dec 18
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Vaikunta Ekadashi
Tithi 9:30 AM, Dec 21 – 8:17 AM, Dec 22
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil.
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Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 8:08 AM, Dec 22 – 7:12 AM
The great Ekadashi at Guruvayur, the Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi.
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Thiruvathira
Tithi 6:03 AM – 6:33 AM, Dec 28
Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
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 entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Dates are shown for the current and the coming year.