Tamil Calendar 1979
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
March 1979
Shaka Samvat 1900 (Kalayukta) · Shaka Samvat 1901 (Siddharthi)
Maasi – Panguni
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 1979 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 1979, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 3 January and closing with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 29 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1900 – 1901.
January 1979 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 Jan | Mon |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 12 Jan | Fri |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Jan | Sun |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 15 Jan | Mon |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
February 1979 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 3 Feb | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 10 Feb | Sat |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 13 Feb | Tue |
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. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 25 Feb | Sun |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
March 1979 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 1979 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 10 Apr | Tue |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 11 Apr | Wed |
Panguni Uthiram The celestial weddings on the Uthiram star of the full moon of Panguni. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 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. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
May 1979 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 12 May | Sat |
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 |
| 31 May | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 1979 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jun | Fri |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 30 Jun | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
July 1979 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul | Sun |
Ani Thirumanjanam The grand sacred anointing of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram on the Uttiram (Uttara Phalguni) star of the Tamil month Aani. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 19 Jul | Thu |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 23 Jul | Mon | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 28 Jul | Sat |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 30 Jul | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1979 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 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 Dashami |
| 3 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dashami |
| 8 Aug | Wed |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 15 Aug | Wed |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 26 Aug | Sun |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 28 Aug | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 1979 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct | Mon |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 20 Oct | Sat |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 Oct | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Oct | Sat |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
November 1979 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 25 Nov | Sun |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 1979 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec | Sun |
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 | Sun |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 24 Dec | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 29 Dec | Sat |
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 1979
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 1979, covering Shaka Samvat 1900 – 1901. 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 1979 | 14 Jan 1979 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 1979 | 12 Feb 1979 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1979 | 14 Mar 1979 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1979 | 14 Apr 1979 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 15 Apr 1979 | 14 May 1979 | 30 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1979 | 15 Jun 1979 | 32 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 1979 | 16 Jul 1979 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1979 | 17 Aug 1979 | 32 |
| Aavani | 18 Aug 1979 | 17 Sep 1979 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 18 Sep 1979 | 17 Oct 1979 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1979 | 16 Nov 1979 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1979 | 16 Dec 1979 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 17 Dec 1979 | 31 Dec 1979 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 1979
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1979 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Ratha Saptami fell on 3 February, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1978 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1979
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb 10:24 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day after Maha Shivaratri | Maasi Amavasya | Not visible |
| 14 Mar 2:38 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Maasi Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 22 Aug 10:51 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aavani Amavasya | Not visible |
| 6 Sep 4:24 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aavani Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1979
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 7:20 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Karka → Simha |
| 4 Nov 1:20 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Simha → Kanya |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1979
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1979?
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 1979, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Wednesday, 3 January 1979, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Saturday, 29 December 1979.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1979?
The first major observances of 1979 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Monday, 8 January 1979
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Friday, 12 January 1979
- Thai Pongal - Sunday, 14 January 1979
- Mattu Pongal - Monday, 15 January 1979
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 3 February 1979
- Thaipusam - Saturday, 10 February 1979
Which month of 1979 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 1979 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Aadi Perukku, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami), Vinayagar Chaturthi, Skanda Shashthi.
Which traditional year does 1979 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1979 spans Shaka Samvat 1900 – 1901. 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 1979 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1979 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 1979?
1979 had 4 eclipses:
- 26 February 1979 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 14 March 1979 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 22 August 1979 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 6 September 1979 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
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 1979?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1979:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Simha on 29 August 1979
- Shani (Saturn) entered Kanya on 4 November 1979
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 1979?
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.
