Tamil Calendar 1973
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
December 1973
Shaka Samvat 1895 (Pramadi)
Karthikai – Margazhi
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 1973 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 37 dates in 1973, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 10 January and closing with Skanda Shashthi on 30 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1894 – 1895.
January 1973 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 14 Jan | Sun |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 15 Jan | Mon |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 19 Jan | Fri |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Krishna Pratipada |
February 1973 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 10 Feb | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 17 Feb | 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 Purnima |
March 1973 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Sat |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 10 Mar | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 19 Mar | Mon |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Krishna Pratipada |
April 1973 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 14 Apr | Sat |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
| 17 Apr | 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 |
May 1973 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 17 May | Thu |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Purnima |
June 1973 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
July 1973 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 6 Jul | 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 |
| 25 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 29 Jul | Sun | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
August 1973 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug | Wed |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 2 Aug | Thu |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 3 Aug | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 10 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dwadashi |
| 14 Aug | Tue |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 21 Aug | Tue |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 31 Aug | Fri |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
September 1973 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 1973 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct | Sat |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
| 25 Oct | Thu |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 31 Oct | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
November 1973 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov | Thu |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 30 Nov | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
December 1973 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | Sat |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 8 Dec | 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 Trayodashi |
| 16 Dec | Sun |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Saptami |
| 30 Dec | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
Months of the Tamil Calendar in 1973
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 1973, covering Shaka Samvat 1894 – 1895. 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 1973 | 13 Jan 1973 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 1973 | 12 Feb 1973 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1973 | 14 Mar 1973 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1973 | 13 Apr 1973 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1973 | 14 May 1973 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1973 | 14 Jun 1973 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 1973 | 16 Jul 1973 | 32 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1973 | 16 Aug 1973 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1973 | 16 Sep 1973 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1973 | 16 Oct 1973 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 17 Oct 1973 | 15 Nov 1973 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 16 Nov 1973 | 15 Dec 1973 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1973 | 31 Dec 1973 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1973
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1973 brought 7 eclipses - 3 solar and 4 lunar - of which 5 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Thai Pongal fell on 14 January, 1 day earlier in the year than in 1972 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1973
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 9:15 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Margazhi Amavasya | Not visible |
| 19 Jan 2:47 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Thaipusam | Thai Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 16 Jun 2:19 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aani Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 30 Jun 5:07 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aani Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 15 Jul 5:08 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aani Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 10 Dec 7:14 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 2 days after Karthigai Deepam | Karthikai Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 24 Dec 8:31 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Margazhi Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1973
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 1:00 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Makara |
| 10 Jun 7:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishabha → Mithuna |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1973
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1973?
The Tamil Calendar lists 37 dates in 1973, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Wednesday, 10 January 1973, and the last is Skanda Shashthi on Sunday, 30 December 1973.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1973?
The first major observances of 1973 are:
- Thai Pongal - Sunday, 14 January 1973
- Mattu Pongal - Monday, 15 January 1973
- Thaipusam - Friday, 19 January 1973
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 10 February 1973
- Masi Magam - Saturday, 17 February 1973
- Maha Shivaratri - Saturday, 3 March 1973
Which month of 1973 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 1973 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Aadi Pooram, Aadi Perukku, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami), Vinayagar Chaturthi.
Which traditional year does 1973 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1973 spans Shaka Samvat 1894 – 1895. 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 1973 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1973 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 1973?
1973 had 7 eclipses:
- 4 January 1973 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 19 January 1973 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 16 June 1973 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 30 June 1973 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 15 July 1973 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 10 December 1973 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 24 December 1973 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
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 1973?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1973:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 25 January 1973
- Shani (Saturn) entered Mithuna on 10 June 1973
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 1973?
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.
