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.
April 2026
Kollam Era 1201
Meenam – Medam
Festivals & Vrats in April 2026
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Vishu
Tithi 1:10 AM, Apr 14 – 12:27 AM, Apr 15
The Malayalam astronomical new year; the auspicious Vishukkani is viewed at dawn for a prosperous year.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 1:19 AM, Apr 22 – 10:41 PM, Apr 22
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Thrissur Pooram
Tithi 6:04 PM, Apr 26 – 6:12 PM, Apr 27
Kerala's grandest temple festival of caparisoned elephants and percussion, on the Pooram star of 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.
Frequently asked questions about Malayalam Calendar
What is the Kollam Era?
The Malayalam era, also called Kollavarsham, counted from 825 CE - so a Gregorian year corresponds to a Kollam year some 824 or 825 less. It is still used in Kerala for traditional and temple purposes.
When does the Malayalam year begin?
On Chingam 1, in mid-August, when the Sun enters Leo. Vishu, on Medam 1 in April, is the astronomical new year of the solar cycle and is kept as a festival with the Vishukkani, but the year number rolls at Chingam.
What are the twelve months?
Chingam, Kanni, Thulam, Vrischikam, Dhanu, Makaram, Kumbham, Meenam, Medam, Edavam, Mithunam, Karkidakam - each beginning when the Sun enters the corresponding sidereal sign.
Why can the month start differ from the Tamil one?
Because Kerala uses an afternoon cutoff - if the Sankranti falls before the end of aparahna the month starts that day - while Tamil Nadu uses sunset. The same solar ingress can therefore begin the month on different dates.
Which festivals are particular to it?
Onam in Chingam, Vishu, Thiruvathira, Mandala Kalam with the Sabarimala season in Vrischikam and Dhanu, Karkidaka Vavu for the ancestors, and Thrissur Pooram. The Malayalam Panchangam gives the daily almanac.
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.
