Tamil Calendar 1966
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
November 1966
Shaka Samvat 1888 (Parabhava)
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 1966 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1966, opening with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 3 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 28 December. Of these, 13 are vrats (fasting observances). The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1887 – 1888. 1966 carries an Adhik Maas (Shravana (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1966 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan | Mon |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 14 Jan | Fri |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 15 Jan | Sat |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Navami |
| 27 Jan | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 29 Jan | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1966 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb | Sat |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 18 Feb | Fri |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 26 Feb | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
March 1966 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar | Sun |
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 |
| 27 Mar | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 1966 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr | Mon |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Apr | Thu |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Krishna Navami |
| 26 Apr | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
May 1966 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 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 |
| 25 May | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 1966 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun | Thu |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 23 Jun | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Jun | Sat |
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 1966 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul | Mon | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Jul | Thu |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 22 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1966 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Tue |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 10 Aug | Wed |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 21 Aug | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 30 Aug | Tue |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 1966 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Sep | Thu |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 18 Sep | Sun |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 19 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 1966 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct | Sun |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 1966 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov | Fri |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 17 Nov | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 18 Nov | Fri |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 27 Nov | Sun |
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 1966 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec | Fri |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 17 Dec | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 18 Dec | Sun |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 23 Dec | Fri |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 28 Dec | Wed |
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 1966
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 1966, covering Shaka Samvat 1887 – 1888. 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 1966 | 13 Jan 1966 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 1966 | 12 Feb 1966 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1966 | 14 Mar 1966 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1966 | 13 Apr 1966 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1966 | 14 May 1966 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1966 | 14 Jun 1966 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 1966 | 16 Jul 1966 | 32 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1966 | 16 Aug 1966 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1966 | 16 Sep 1966 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1966 | 17 Oct 1966 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1966 | 16 Nov 1966 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1966 | 15 Dec 1966 | 29 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1966 | 31 Dec 1966 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1966
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1966 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Shravana, running from 19 July 1966 to 16 August 1966. Puthandu (Tamil New Year) fell on 14 April, 1 day later in the year than in 1965 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1966
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 2:41 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Chithirai Thiruvizha | Chithirai Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 20 May 3:08 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vaikasi Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 29 Oct 3:42 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aippasi Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 12 Nov 7:52 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day after Deepavali | Aippasi Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1966
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 3:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mithuna → Vrishabha re-entry while retrograde |
| 24 Mar 5:00 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishabha → Mithuna |
| 9 Apr 5:00 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 21 Aug 11:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mithuna → Karka |
| 3 Nov 12:00 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Meena → Kumbha re-entry while retrograde |
| 20 Dec 1:40 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Kumbha → Meena |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mesha on 25 June 1966, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1966
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1966?
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1966, of which 13 are vrats. The first is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Monday, 3 January 1966, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Wednesday, 28 December 1966.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1966?
The first major observances of 1966 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Monday, 3 January 1966
- Thai Pongal - Friday, 14 January 1966
- Mattu Pongal - Saturday, 15 January 1966
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 29 January 1966
- Thaipusam - Saturday, 5 February 1966
- Maha Shivaratri - Friday, 18 February 1966
Which traditional year does 1966 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1966 spans Shaka Samvat 1887 – 1888. 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 1966 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1966 carried an Adhik Maas (Shravana (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 1966 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1966?
1966 had 4 eclipses:
- 5 May 1966 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 20 May 1966 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 29 October 1966 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 12 November 1966 - Total solar eclipse (Surya 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 1966?
Yes - 6 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1966:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishabha on 10 January 1966, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mithuna on 24 March 1966
- Shani (Saturn) entered Meena on 9 April 1966
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Karka on 21 August 1966
- Shani (Saturn) entered Kumbha on 3 November 1966, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Meena on 20 December 1966
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 1966?
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.
