Tamil Calendar 1985
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
March 1985
Shaka Samvat 1906 (Raktaksha) · Shaka Samvat 1907 (Krodhana)
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 1985 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 40 dates in 1985, opening with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 3 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 27 December. Of these, 13 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1906 – 1907. 1985 carries an Adhik Maas (Shravana (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1985 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan | Thu |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dwadashi |
| 6 Jan | Sun |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Jan | Mon |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 15 Jan | Tue |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Navami |
| 26 Jan | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Jan | Mon |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 1985 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb | Tue |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 17 Feb | Sun |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 25 Feb | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
March 1985 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar | Wed |
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 |
| 27 Mar | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
April 1985 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr | Thu |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 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 Dashami |
| 26 Apr | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
May 1985 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 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 |
| 25 May | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 1985 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun | Sun |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 23 Jun | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 25 Jun | Tue |
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 1985 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul | Mon |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 23 Jul | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1985 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. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
| 10 Aug | Sat |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 16 Aug | Fri | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Aug | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 30 Aug | Fri |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 30 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Purnima |
September 1985 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep | Sat |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 18 Sep | Wed |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 19 Sep | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 1985 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 22 Oct | Tue |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
November 1985 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov | Mon |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 17 Nov | Sun |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Nov | Tue |
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 1985 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 Panchami |
| 17 Dec | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 17 Dec | Tue |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 22 Dec | Sun |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 27 Dec | Fri |
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 1985
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 1985, covering Shaka Samvat 1906 – 1907. 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 1985 | 13 Jan 1985 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 1985 | 12 Feb 1985 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1985 | 14 Mar 1985 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1985 | 13 Apr 1985 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 1985 | 14 May 1985 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 1985 | 14 Jun 1985 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 1985 | 16 Jul 1985 | 32 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1985 | 16 Aug 1985 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 1985 | 16 Sep 1985 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 1985 | 17 Oct 1985 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1985 | 16 Nov 1985 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1985 | 15 Dec 1985 | 29 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 1985 | 31 Dec 1985 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 1985
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1985 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 Shravana, running from 18 July 1985 to 16 August 1985. Vaikunta Ekadashi fell on 3 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 1984 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1985
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 1:26 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Chithirai Thiruvizha | Chithirai Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 20 May 2:58 AM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vaikasi Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 28 Oct 11:12 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aippasi Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 12 Nov 7:40 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day after Deepavali | Aippasi Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1985
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 2:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Dhanu → Makara |
| 1 Jun 2:40 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Tula re-entry while retrograde |
| 17 Sep 5:20 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Tula → Vrishchika |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mesha on 29 January 1985, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1985
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1985?
The Tamil Calendar lists 40 dates in 1985, of which 13 are vrats. The first is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Thursday, 3 January 1985, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Friday, 27 December 1985.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1985?
The first major observances of 1985 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Thursday, 3 January 1985
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Sunday, 6 January 1985
- Thai Pongal - Monday, 14 January 1985
- Mattu Pongal - Tuesday, 15 January 1985
- Ratha Saptami - Monday, 28 January 1985
- Thaipusam - Tuesday, 5 February 1985
Which month of 1985 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 1985 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 1985 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1985 spans Shaka Samvat 1906 – 1907. 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 1985 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1985 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 1985 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1985?
1985 had 4 eclipses:
- 5 May 1985 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 20 May 1985 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 28 October 1985 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 12 November 1985 - Total 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 1985?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1985:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 10 January 1985
- Shani (Saturn) entered Tula on 1 June 1985, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Vrishchika on 17 September 1985
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 1985?
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.
