Tamil Calendar 1974
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
August 1974
Shaka Samvat 1896 (Aananda)
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 1974 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 1974, opening with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 4 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 29 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1895 – 1896. 1974 carries an Adhik Maas (Bhadrapada (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1974 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan | Fri |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 8 Jan | Tue |
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 Saptami |
| 15 Jan | Tue |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 29 Jan | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 30 Jan | Wed |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1974 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb | Wed |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 20 Feb | Wed |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 27 Feb | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
March 1974 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar | Thu |
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 |
| 29 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
April 1974 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr | Fri |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 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 Saptami |
| 27 Apr | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
May 1974 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 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 |
| 26 May | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 1974 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jun | Mon |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 24 Jun | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 26 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 1974 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul | Fri | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 23 Jul | Tue |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 24 Jul | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1974 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Fri |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 2 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 3 Aug | Sat |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 11 Aug | Sun |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 12 Aug | Mon |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 22 Aug | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
September 1974 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep | Thu |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 21 Sep | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 1974 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 1974 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov | Wed |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 19 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 20 Nov | Wed |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 28 Nov | Thu |
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 1974 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. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 19 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 20 Dec | Fri |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Dec | Wed |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 29 Dec | Sun |
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 1974
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 1974, covering Shaka Samvat 1895 – 1896. 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 1974 | 13 Jan 1974 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 1974 | 12 Feb 1974 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1974 | 14 Mar 1974 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1974 | 13 Apr 1974 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1974 | 14 May 1974 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1974 | 14 Jun 1974 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 1974 | 16 Jul 1974 | 32 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1974 | 16 Aug 1974 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1974 | 16 Sep 1974 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1974 | 17 Oct 1974 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1974 | 16 Nov 1974 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1974 | 15 Dec 1974 | 29 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1974 | 31 Dec 1974 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1974
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1974 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Bhadrapada, running from 18 August 1974 to 16 September 1974. Ratha Saptami fell on 30 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1973 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1974
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 3:45 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 2 days after Vaikasi Visakam | Vaikasi Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 20 Jun 10:17 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aani Amavasya | Not visible |
| 29 Nov 8:43 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Karthigai Deepam | Karthikai Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 13 Dec 9:42 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Dhanurmasam Begins | Karthikai Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1974
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Feb 10:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Vrishchika on 25 March 1974, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1974
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1974?
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 1974, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Friday, 4 January 1974, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Sunday, 29 December 1974.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1974?
The first major observances of 1974 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Friday, 4 January 1974
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Tuesday, 8 January 1974
- Thai Pongal - Monday, 14 January 1974
- Mattu Pongal - Tuesday, 15 January 1974
- Ratha Saptami - Wednesday, 30 January 1974
- Thaipusam - Wednesday, 6 February 1974
Which month of 1974 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 1974 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Vaikunta Ekadashi, Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan), Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Skanda Shashthi, Ratha Saptami.
Which traditional year does 1974 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1974 spans Shaka Samvat 1895 – 1896. 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 1974 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1974 carried an Adhik Maas (Bhadrapada (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 1974 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1974?
1974 had 4 eclipses:
- 5 June 1974 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 20 June 1974 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 29 November 1974 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 13 December 1974 - Partial 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 1974?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1974:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 9 February 1974
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 1974?
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.
