Tamil Calendar 1983
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
May 1983
Shaka Samvat 1905 (Rudhirodgari)
Chithirai – Vaikasi
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 1983 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 35 dates in 1983, opening with Thai Pongal on 14 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 21 December. Of these, 12 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1904 – 1905. 1983 carries an Adhik Maas (Phalguna (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1983 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Fri |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 15 Jan | Sat |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 20 Jan | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 21 Jan | Fri |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1983 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb | Fri |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 18 Feb | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Feb | Sun |
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 1983 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 28 Mar | Mon |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Purnima |
April 1983 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 18 Apr | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Apr | Wed |
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 1983 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 26 May | Thu |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Purnima |
June 1983 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 18 Jun | Sat |
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 1983 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1983 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug | Wed |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 3 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 Navami |
| 8 Aug | Mon | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 11 Aug | Thu |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 13 Aug | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 19 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 23 Aug | Tue |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 31 Aug | Wed |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
September 1983 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep | Sat |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 12 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 1983 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct | Sun |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 1983 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov | Fri |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 10 Nov | Thu |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 20 Nov | 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 Purnima |
December 1983 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Dec | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 10 Dec | Sat |
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 Ekadashi |
| 21 Dec | Wed |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
Months of the Tamil Calendar in 1983
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 1983, covering Shaka Samvat 1904 – 1905. 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 1983 | 14 Jan 1983 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 1983 | 12 Feb 1983 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1983 | 14 Mar 1983 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1983 | 14 Apr 1983 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 15 Apr 1983 | 15 May 1983 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 16 May 1983 | 15 Jun 1983 | 31 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 1983 | 16 Jul 1983 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1983 | 17 Aug 1983 | 32 |
| Aavani | 18 Aug 1983 | 17 Sep 1983 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 18 Sep 1983 | 17 Oct 1983 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1983 | 16 Nov 1983 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1983 | 16 Dec 1983 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 17 Dec 1983 | 31 Dec 1983 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 1983
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1983 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 Phalguna, running from 13 February 1983 to 14 March 1983. Ratha Saptami fell on 21 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1982 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1983
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun 10:12 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vaikasi Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 25 Jun 1:52 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aani Purnima | Not visible |
| 4 Dec 6:00 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Karthikai Amavasya | Not visible |
| 20 Dec 7:19 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day before Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Purnima | Penumbral only |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1983
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 3:10 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Vrishabha on 13 July 1983, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1983
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1983?
The Tamil Calendar lists 35 dates in 1983, of which 12 are vrats. The first is Thai Pongal on Friday, 14 January 1983, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Wednesday, 21 December 1983.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1983?
The first major observances of 1983 are:
- Thai Pongal - Friday, 14 January 1983
- Mattu Pongal - Saturday, 15 January 1983
- Ratha Saptami - Friday, 21 January 1983
- Maha Shivaratri - Friday, 11 February 1983
- Masi Magam - Sunday, 27 February 1983
- Panguni Uthiram - Monday, 28 March 1983
Which month of 1983 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 1983 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Aadi Krithigai, Aadi Perukku, Aadi Amavasai, Aadi Pooram, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami).
Which traditional year does 1983 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1983 spans Shaka Samvat 1904 – 1905. 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 1983 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1983 carried an Adhik Maas (Phalguna (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 1983 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1983?
1983 had 4 eclipses:
- 11 June 1983 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 25 June 1983 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 4 December 1983 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 20 December 1983 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
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 1983?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1983:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Dhanu on 22 December 1983
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 1983?
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.


