Tamil Calendar 1950
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
March 1950
Shaka Samvat 1871 (Virodhi) · Shaka Samvat 1872 (Vikriti)
Maasi – Panguni
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.
Tamil Calendar 1950 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1950, opening with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 4 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 25 December. Of these, 13 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1871 – 1872. 1950 carries an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1950 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan | Wed |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 15 Jan | Sun |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 23 Jan | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Jan | Wed |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1950 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | Thu |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 15 Feb | Wed |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 22 Feb | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
March 1950 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Fri |
Masi Magam On the Magham star of the Tamil month Maasi, temple deities are taken in procession to the sea and rivers for a holy bath. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 24 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 1950 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr | Sun |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 14 Apr | Fri |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 23 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
May 1950 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May | Tue |
Chithirai Thiruvizha Madurai's Chithirai festival peaks on the Chitra full moon of the Tamil month Chithirai with the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 22 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 May | Tue |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
June 1950 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 23 Jun | Fri |
Ani Thirumanjanam The grand sacred anointing of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram on the Uttiram (Uttara Phalguni) star of the Tamil month Aani. |
Shukla Ashtami |
July 1950 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 20 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1950 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Wed |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Krishna Chaturthi |
| 7 Aug | Mon |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 13 Aug | Sun | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 18 Aug | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Trayodashi |
| 27 Aug | Sun |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 1950 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Sep | Tue |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 15 Sep | Fri |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 17 Sep | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 1950 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 1950 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov | Thu |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 14 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 15 Nov | Wed |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 24 Nov | Fri |
Karthigai Deepam The Tamil festival of lights on the Krittika star of Karthigai — rows of agal vilakku are lit, and the Maha Deepam blazes atop Tiruvannamalai. |
Shukla Purnima |
December 1950 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 14 Dec | Thu |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 16 Dec | Sat |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 19 Dec | Tue |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 25 Dec | Mon |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
Months of the Tamil Calendar in 1950
The Tamil 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 1950, covering Shaka Samvat 1871 – 1872. A month marked part is one the Gregorian year cuts short at its own start or end.
| Month | Begins | Ends | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margazhi part | 1 Jan 1950 | 13 Jan 1950 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 1950 | 12 Feb 1950 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1950 | 14 Mar 1950 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1950 | 13 Apr 1950 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1950 | 14 May 1950 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1950 | 14 Jun 1950 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 1950 | 16 Jul 1950 | 32 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1950 | 16 Aug 1950 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1950 | 16 Sep 1950 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1950 | 17 Oct 1950 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1950 | 16 Nov 1950 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1950 | 15 Dec 1950 | 29 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1950 | 31 Dec 1950 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1950
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1950 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 1 was above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Ashadha, running from 16 June 1950 to 15 July 1950. Puthandu (Tamil New Year) fell on 14 April, 1 day later in the year than in 1949 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1950
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Mar 9:01 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Panguni Amavasya | Not visible |
| 3 Apr 2:14 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Panguni Uthiram | Panguni Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 12 Sep 9:08 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Vinayagar Chaturthi | Aavani Amavasya | Not visible |
| 26 Sep 9:46 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Purattasi Purnima | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1950
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Mar 10:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
| 20 Sep 6:10 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Simha → Kanya |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Kumbha on 24 December 1950, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1950
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1950?
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1950, of which 13 are vrats. The first is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Wednesday, 4 January 1950, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Monday, 25 December 1950.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1950?
The first major observances of 1950 are:
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Wednesday, 4 January 1950
- Thai Pongal - Saturday, 14 January 1950
- Mattu Pongal - Sunday, 15 January 1950
- Ratha Saptami - Wednesday, 25 January 1950
- Thaipusam - Thursday, 2 February 1950
- Maha Shivaratri - Wednesday, 15 February 1950
Which month of 1950 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 1950 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Aadi Perukku, Aadi Krithigai, Aadi Amavasai, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma).
Which traditional year does 1950 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1950 spans Shaka Samvat 1871 – 1872. 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 1950 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1950 carried an Adhik Maas (Ashadha (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 1950 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1950?
1950 had 4 eclipses:
- 18 March 1950 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 3 April 1950 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 12 September 1950 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 26 September 1950 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
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 1950?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1950:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 13 March 1950
- Shani (Saturn) entered Kanya on 20 September 1950
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 1950?
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 Tamil Calendar opens on the current month.
About the Tamil Calendar
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil 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.


