Malayalam Calendar - Kollam Era 2028
The Malayalam festival calendar (Kollam Era). Kerala festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
July 2028
Kollam Era 1203
Mithunam – Karkidakam
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 2028 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Malayalam Calendar lists 33 dates in 2028, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 2 January and closing with Thiruvathira on 31 December. Of these, 15 are vrats (fasting observances). The year runs through Kollam Era 1203 – 1204.
January 2028 Dhanu – Makaram
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 Jan | Sat |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 15 Jan | Sat |
Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) The Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku at Sabarimala on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Chaturthi |
February 2028 Makaram – Kumbham
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 3 Feb | Thu |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 9 Feb | Wed |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 23 Feb | Wed |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, with the Aluva Sivarathri on the Periyar sands. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2028 Kumbham – Meenam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 31 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 2028 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 Panchami |
| 30 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
May 2028 Medam – Edavam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May | Thu |
Thrissur Pooram Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of Medam. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 29 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 2028 Edavam – Mithunam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
July 2028 Mithunam – Karkidakam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul | Sat | Karkidaka Vavu Bali Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 Jul | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2028 Karkidakam – Chingam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 5 Aug | Sat |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 13 Aug | Sun |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Ashtami Rohini) The birth of Lord Krishna on the Rohini star of Chingam. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 25 Aug | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
September 2028 Chingam – Kanni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep | Fri |
Onam (Thiruvonam) Kerala's harvest festival welcoming King Mahabali, with Pookalam, Onasadya and boat races. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 19 Sep | Tue |
Navratri (Saraswathi Puja)
The autumn nine nights, culminating in Saraswathi Puja and Vidyarambham. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 23 Sep | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Sep | Wed |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
October 2028 Kanni – Thulam
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct | Tue |
Deepavali The festival of lights. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
November 2028 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 Amavasya |
| 21 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 22 Nov | Wed |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 27 Nov | Mon | Guruvayur Ekadashi Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
December 2028 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 Amavasya |
| 21 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Dec | Wed |
Vaikunta Ekadashi The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 31 Dec | Sun |
Thiruvathira Women keep the Thiruvathira vrat for marital bliss on the Ardra star of Dhanu. |
Shukla Purnima |
Months of the Malayalam Calendar in 2028
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 2028, covering Kollam Era 1203 – 1204. 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 2028 | 14 Jan 2028 | 14 |
| Makaram | 15 Jan 2028 | 13 Feb 2028 | 30 |
| Kumbham | 14 Feb 2028 | 13 Mar 2028 | 29 |
| Meenam | 14 Mar 2028 | 13 Apr 2028 | 31 |
| Medam | 14 Apr 2028 | 14 May 2028 | 31 |
| Edavam | 15 May 2028 | 14 Jun 2028 | 31 |
| Mithunam | 15 Jun 2028 | 15 Jul 2028 | 31 |
| Karkidakam | 16 Jul 2028 | 16 Aug 2028 | 32 |
| Chingam | 17 Aug 2028 | 16 Sep 2028 | 31 |
| Kanni | 17 Sep 2028 | 16 Oct 2028 | 30 |
| Thulam | 17 Oct 2028 | 15 Nov 2028 | 30 |
| Vrischikam | 16 Nov 2028 | 15 Dec 2028 | 30 |
| Dhanu part | 16 Dec 2028 | 31 Dec 2028 | 16 |
What the sky brings in 2028
Beyond the dates the Malayalam Calendar lists, 2028 brings 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 3 are above the horizon somewhere in India. Ratha Saptami falls on 3 February, 10 days earlier in the year than in 2027 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2028
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Malayalam date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 9:43 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 3 days before Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) | Dhanu Purnima | Not visible |
| 26 Jan 8:37 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Makaram Amavasya | Not visible |
| 6 Jul 11:49 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Mithunam Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 22 Jul 8:25 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Karkidakam Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 31 Dec 10:22 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Thiruvathira | Dhanu Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal is observed for 3 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2028
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Feb 7:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Meena → Mesha |
| 28 Feb 7:20 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Simha re-entry while retrograde |
| 24 Jul 3:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
| 26 Dec 1:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Tula |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu enters Dhanu on 24 June 2028, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Frequently asked questions about the Malayalam Calendar 2028
How many festivals and vrats does the Malayalam Calendar list in 2028?
The Malayalam Calendar lists 33 dates in 2028, of which 15 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Sunday, 2 January 2028, and the last is Thiruvathira on Sunday, 31 December 2028.
What are the main festival dates in the Malayalam Calendar for 2028?
The first major observances of 2028 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Saturday, 8 January 2028
- Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti) - Saturday, 15 January 2028
- Ratha Saptami - Thursday, 3 February 2028
- Thaipusam - Wednesday, 9 February 2028
- Maha Shivaratri - Wednesday, 23 February 2028
- Vishu - Friday, 14 April 2028
Which traditional year does 2028 correspond to in the Malayalam Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2028 spans Kollam Era 1203 – 1204. 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.
Will there be an Adhik Maas in 2028?
No. 2028 has 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.
Will there be any eclipses in 2028?
2028 has 5 eclipses:
- 12 January 2028 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 26 January 2028 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 6 July 2028 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
- 22 July 2028 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
- 31 December 2028 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 3 of these will be kept in India.
Will Guru or Shani change sign in 2028?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2028:
- Shani (Saturn) enters Mesha on 23 February 2028
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Simha on 28 February 2028, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Kanya on 24 July 2028
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Tula on 26 December 2028
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 2028?
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.


