Tamil Calendar 1977
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
December 1977
Shaka Samvat 1899 (Pingala)
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 1977 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 38 dates in 1977, opening with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 1 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 26 December. Of these, 12 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1898 – 1899. 1977 carries an Adhik Maas (Shravana (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1977 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Sat |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 5 Jan | Wed |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 14 Jan | Fri |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Navami |
| 15 Jan | Sat |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 24 Jan | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 26 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 1977 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb | Thu |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 16 Feb | Wed |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 23 Feb | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
March 1977 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar | 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 |
| 25 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 1977 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr | Sun |
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 Ekadashi |
| 24 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
May 1977 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May | 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 |
| 24 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
June 1977 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 24 Jun | 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 |
July 1977 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 21 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1977 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 Tritiya |
| 8 Aug | Mon |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 14 Aug | Sun | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 20 Aug | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dwadashi |
| 28 Aug | Sun |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 1977 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep | Tue |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 16 Sep | Fri |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 18 Sep | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 1977 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 1977 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov | Thu |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 16 Nov | Wed |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Nov | Fri |
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 Purnima |
December 1977 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 15 Dec | Thu |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 16 Dec | Fri |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 21 Dec | Wed |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 26 Dec | Mon |
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 1977
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 1977, covering Shaka Samvat 1898 – 1899. 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 1977 | 13 Jan 1977 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 1977 | 12 Feb 1977 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1977 | 14 Mar 1977 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1977 | 13 Apr 1977 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1977 | 14 May 1977 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1977 | 14 Jun 1977 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 1977 | 16 Jul 1977 | 32 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1977 | 16 Aug 1977 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1977 | 16 Sep 1977 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1977 | 17 Oct 1977 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1977 | 15 Nov 1977 | 29 |
| Karthikai | 16 Nov 1977 | 15 Dec 1977 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1977 | 31 Dec 1977 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1977
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1977 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 Shravana, running from 17 July 1977 to 14 August 1977. Vaikunta Ekadashi fell on 1 January, 12 days earlier in the year than in 1976 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1977
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 9:48 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Panguni Uthiram | Panguni Purnima | Not visible |
| 18 Apr 4:00 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Chithirai Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 27 Sep 1:59 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Purattasi Purnima | Not visible |
| 13 Oct 1:56 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Purattasi Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1977
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 7:00 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mesha → Vrishabha |
| 18 Jul 11:00 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishabha → Mithuna |
| 7 Sep 11:20 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Karka → Simha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Kanya on 1 May 1977, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1977
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1977?
The Tamil Calendar lists 38 dates in 1977, of which 12 are vrats. The first is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Saturday, 1 January 1977, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Monday, 26 December 1977.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1977?
The first major observances of 1977 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Saturday, 1 January 1977
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Wednesday, 5 January 1977
- Thai Pongal - Friday, 14 January 1977
- Mattu Pongal - Saturday, 15 January 1977
- Ratha Saptami - Wednesday, 26 January 1977
- Thaipusam - Thursday, 3 February 1977
Which month of 1977 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 1977 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 1977 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1977 spans Shaka Samvat 1898 – 1899. 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 1977 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1977 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 1977 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1977?
1977 had 4 eclipses:
- 4 April 1977 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 18 April 1977 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 27 September 1977 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 13 October 1977 - 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 1977?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1977:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishabha on 22 February 1977
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mithuna on 18 July 1977
- Shani (Saturn) entered Simha on 7 September 1977
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 1977?
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.
