Tamil Calendar 1963
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
November 1963
Shaka Samvat 1885 (Shobhakrit)
Aippasi – Karthikai
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 1963 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 1963, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 1 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 30 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1884 – 1885. 1963 carries an Adhik Maas (Kartika (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1963 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 6 Jan | Sun |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 9 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 | Mon |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Panchami |
| 15 Jan | Tue |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Panchami |
| 30 Jan | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 31 Jan | Thu |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1963 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | Thu |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 22 Feb | Fri |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 28 Feb | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
March 1963 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar | Sat |
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 |
| 30 Mar | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
April 1963 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr | Sun |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Apr | Sun |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Krishna Panchami |
| 28 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
May 1963 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 May | Wed |
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 |
| 28 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
June 1963 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun | Wed |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 26 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 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 Saptami |
July 1963 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 20 Jul | Sat | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 24 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 26 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1963 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dwadashi |
| 3 Aug | Sat |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 5 Aug | Mon |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 12 Aug | Mon |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 23 Aug | Fri |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 24 Aug | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
September 1963 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Sep | Sat |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
October 1963 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct | Wed |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 23 Oct | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
November 1963 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov | Fri |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 30 Nov | Sat |
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 Chaturdashi |
December 1963 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec | Mon |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Dec | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 22 Dec | Sun |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Dec | Thu |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 30 Dec | Mon |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Purnima |
Months of the Tamil Calendar in 1963
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 1963, covering Shaka Samvat 1884 – 1885. 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 1963 | 14 Jan 1963 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 1963 | 12 Feb 1963 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1963 | 14 Mar 1963 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1963 | 13 Apr 1963 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1963 | 14 May 1963 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1963 | 15 Jun 1963 | 32 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 1963 | 16 Jul 1963 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1963 | 16 Aug 1963 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1963 | 16 Sep 1963 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1963 | 17 Oct 1963 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1963 | 16 Nov 1963 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1963 | 15 Dec 1963 | 29 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1963 | 31 Dec 1963 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1963
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1963 brought 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Kartika, running from 18 October 1963 to 16 November 1963. Ratha Saptami fell on 31 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1962 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1963
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 4:49 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 25 Jan 7:06 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Thai Amavasya | Not visible |
| 7 Jul 3:32 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aani Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 21 Jul 2:05 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Aadi Pooram | Aadi Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 30 Dec 4:36 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1963
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 6:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mithuna on 19 May 1963, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1963
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1963?
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 1963, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Tuesday, 1 January 1963, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Monday, 30 December 1963.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1963?
The first major observances of 1963 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Sunday, 6 January 1963
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Wednesday, 9 January 1963
- Thai Pongal - Monday, 14 January 1963
- Mattu Pongal - Tuesday, 15 January 1963
- Ratha Saptami - Thursday, 31 January 1963
- Thaipusam - Thursday, 7 February 1963
Which month of 1963 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 1963 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan), Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Ratha Saptami.
Which traditional year does 1963 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1963 spans Shaka Samvat 1884 – 1885. 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 1963 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1963 carried an Adhik Maas (Kartika (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 1963 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1963?
1963 had 5 eclipses:
- 10 January 1963 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 25 January 1963 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 7 July 1963 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 21 July 1963 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 30 December 1963 - Total 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 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1963?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1963:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 7 March 1963
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 1963?
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.
