Tamil Calendar 1972
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
August 1972
Shaka Samvat 1894 (Paridhavi)
Aadi – Aavani
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 1972 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 37 dates in 1972, opening with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 1 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 21 December. Of these, 12 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1893 – 1894. 1972 carries an Adhik Maas (Vaishakha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1972 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Sat |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 15 Jan | Sat |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 16 Jan | Sun |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Jan | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 22 Jan | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 30 Jan | Sun |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
February 1972 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb | Sun |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 19 Feb | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Feb | Mon |
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 |
March 1972 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 29 Mar | Wed |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Purnima |
April 1972 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 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 Amavasya |
| 18 Apr | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Apr | Fri |
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 |
May 1972 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 27 May | Sat |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
June 1972 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 19 Jun | Mon |
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 1972 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1972 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 Ashtami |
| 9 Aug | Wed | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 11 Aug | Fri |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 14 Aug | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 18 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Navami |
| 24 Aug | Thu |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 31 Aug | Thu |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Saptami |
September 1972 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep | Mon |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 13 Sep | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 1972 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct | Tue |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
November 1972 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov | Sat |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 12 Nov | Sun |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 20 Nov | Mon |
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 1972 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 12 Dec | Tue |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 15 Dec | Fri |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Navami |
| 16 Dec | Sat |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 21 Dec | Thu |
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 1972
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 1972, covering Shaka Samvat 1893 – 1894. 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 1972 | 14 Jan 1972 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 1972 | 13 Feb 1972 | 30 |
| Maasi | 14 Feb 1972 | 13 Mar 1972 | 29 |
| Panguni | 14 Mar 1972 | 13 Apr 1972 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1972 | 14 May 1972 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1972 | 14 Jun 1972 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 1972 | 15 Jul 1972 | 31 |
| Aadi | 16 Jul 1972 | 16 Aug 1972 | 32 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1972 | 16 Sep 1972 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1972 | 16 Oct 1972 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 17 Oct 1972 | 15 Nov 1972 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 16 Nov 1972 | 15 Dec 1972 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1972 | 31 Dec 1972 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1972
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1972 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 Vaishakha, running from 14 April 1972 to 13 May 1972. Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) fell on 1 January, 9 days earlier in the year than in 1971 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1972
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 4:32 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Mattu Pongal | Thai Amavasya | Not visible |
| 30 Jan 4:23 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Thaipusam | Thai Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Jul 1:15 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aani Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 26 Jul 12:45 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aadi Purnima | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1972
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan 7:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Dhanu on 5 September 1972, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1972
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1972?
The Tamil Calendar lists 37 dates in 1972, of which 12 are vrats. The first is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Saturday, 1 January 1972, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Thursday, 21 December 1972.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1972?
The first major observances of 1972 are:
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Saturday, 1 January 1972
- Thai Pongal - Saturday, 15 January 1972
- Mattu Pongal - Sunday, 16 January 1972
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 22 January 1972
- Thaipusam - Sunday, 30 January 1972
- Maha Shivaratri - Sunday, 13 February 1972
Which month of 1972 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 1972 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Aadi Perukku, Aadi Amavasai, Aadi Pooram, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami).
Which traditional year does 1972 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1972 spans Shaka Samvat 1893 – 1894. 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 1972 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1972 carried an Adhik Maas (Vaishakha (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 1972 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1972?
1972 had 4 eclipses:
- 16 January 1972 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 30 January 1972 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 11 July 1972 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 26 July 1972 - Partial 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 1972?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1972:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 6 January 1972
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 1972?
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.


