Tamil Calendar 1971
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
May 1971
Shaka Samvat 1893 (Virodhakrit)
Chithirai – Vaikasi
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 1971 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1971, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 2 January and closing with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 28 December. Of these, 13 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1892 – 1893.
January 1971 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 7 Jan | Thu |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 10 Jan | Sun |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Jan | Thu |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Tritiya |
| 15 Jan | Fri |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Chaturthi |
| 31 Jan | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
February 1971 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | Tue |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 9 Feb | Tue |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 23 Feb | Tue |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1971 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 10 Mar | Wed |
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 |
| 31 Mar | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 1971 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr | Fri |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Apr | Wed |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Krishna Tritiya |
| 30 Apr | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
May 1971 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May | Mon |
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 |
| 29 May | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 1971 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun | Mon |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 28 Jun | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Jun | Wed |
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 1971 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul | Sun |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 22 Jul | Thu | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 Jul | Mon |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 28 Jul | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1971 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug | Tue |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 6 Aug | Fri |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 6 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Purnima |
| 13 Aug | Fri |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 24 Aug | Tue |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 26 Aug | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
September 1971 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep | Wed |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
October 1971 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct | Mon |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 25 Oct | Mon |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
November 1971 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 24 Nov | Wed |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 1971 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | Wed |
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 |
| 16 Dec | Thu |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 23 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 28 Dec | Tue |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
Months of the Tamil Calendar in 1971
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 1971, covering Shaka Samvat 1892 – 1893. 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 1971 | 14 Jan 1971 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 1971 | 12 Feb 1971 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1971 | 14 Mar 1971 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1971 | 14 Apr 1971 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 15 Apr 1971 | 14 May 1971 | 30 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1971 | 15 Jun 1971 | 32 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 1971 | 16 Jul 1971 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1971 | 17 Aug 1971 | 32 |
| Aavani | 18 Aug 1971 | 16 Sep 1971 | 30 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1971 | 17 Oct 1971 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1971 | 16 Nov 1971 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1971 | 16 Dec 1971 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 17 Dec 1971 | 31 Dec 1971 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 1971
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1971 brought 5 eclipses - 3 solar and 2 lunar - of which 1 was above the horizon somewhere in India. Ratha Saptami fell on 2 February, 10 days earlier in the year than in 1970 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1971
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1:14 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Thaipusam | Thai Purnima | Not visible |
| 25 Feb 3:07 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivaratri | Maasi Amavasya | Not visible |
| 22 Jul 3:01 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aadi Amavasya | Not visible |
| 7 Aug 1:13 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Avani Avittam (Upakarma) | Aadi Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 21 Aug 4:08 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Vinayagar Chaturthi | Aavani Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1971
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 10:30 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Mesha → Vrishabha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Makara on 17 February 1971, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1971
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1971?
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1971, of which 13 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Saturday, 2 January 1971, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Tuesday, 28 December 1971.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1971?
The first major observances of 1971 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Thursday, 7 January 1971
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Sunday, 10 January 1971
- Thai Pongal - Thursday, 14 January 1971
- Mattu Pongal - Friday, 15 January 1971
- Ratha Saptami - Tuesday, 2 February 1971
- Thaipusam - Tuesday, 9 February 1971
Which month of 1971 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 1971 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan), Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal.
Which traditional year does 1971 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1971 spans Shaka Samvat 1892 – 1893. 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 1971 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1971 had 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.
Were there any eclipses in 1971?
1971 had 5 eclipses:
- 10 February 1971 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 25 February 1971 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 22 July 1971 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 7 August 1971 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 21 August 1971 - Partial 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 1971?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1971:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Vrishabha on 28 April 1971
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 1971?
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.
