Tamil Calendar 1987
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
September 1987
Shaka Samvat 1909 (Prabhava)
Aavani – Purattasi
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 1987 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1987, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 4 January and closing with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 30 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). July is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1908 – 1909.
January 1987 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 10 Jan | Sat |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 14 Jan | Wed |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 15 Jan | Thu |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Jan | Fri |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Krishna Pratipada |
February 1987 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 5 Feb | Thu |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 14 Feb | 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. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 26 Feb | Thu |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 1987 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Mar | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 16 Mar | Mon |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Krishna Pratipada |
April 1987 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 14 Apr | Tue |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Shukla Purnima |
May 1987 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 13 May | 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 |
June 1987 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 10 Jun | Wed |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
July 1987 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 3 Jul | 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 |
| 20 Jul | Mon |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 25 Jul | Sat | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 29 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 31 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 1987 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug | Mon |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 7 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Trayodashi |
| 9 Aug | Sun |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Aug | Sun |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 28 Aug | Fri |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 30 Aug | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 1987 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 21 Oct | Wed |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 27 Oct | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Oct | Wed |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
November 1987 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Nov | Thu |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 1987 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec | 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 Chaturdashi |
| 16 Dec | Wed |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Dec | Wed |
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 1987
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 1987, covering Shaka Samvat 1908 – 1909. 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 1987 | 14 Jan 1987 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 1987 | 12 Feb 1987 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1987 | 14 Mar 1987 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1987 | 14 Apr 1987 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 15 Apr 1987 | 15 May 1987 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 16 May 1987 | 15 Jun 1987 | 31 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 1987 | 16 Jul 1987 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1987 | 17 Aug 1987 | 32 |
| Aavani | 18 Aug 1987 | 17 Sep 1987 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 18 Sep 1987 | 17 Oct 1987 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1987 | 16 Nov 1987 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1987 | 16 Dec 1987 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 17 Dec 1987 | 31 Dec 1987 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 1987
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1987 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Thaipusam fell on 16 January, 10 days earlier in the year than in 1986 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1987
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 6:18 PM | Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Panguni Amavasya | Not visible |
| 14 Apr 7:48 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Puthandu (Tamil New Year) | Panguni Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 23 Sep 8:41 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Purattasi Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 7 Oct 9:31 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Purattasi Purnima | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1987
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1:10 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 16 Jun 9:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
| 26 Oct 4:40 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Mesha → Meena re-entry while retrograde |
| 17 Dec 3:00 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1987
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1987?
The Tamil Calendar lists 39 dates in 1987, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Sunday, 4 January 1987, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Wednesday, 30 December 1987.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1987?
The first major observances of 1987 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Saturday, 10 January 1987
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Wednesday, 14 January 1987
- Mattu Pongal - Thursday, 15 January 1987
- Thaipusam - Friday, 16 January 1987
- Ratha Saptami - Thursday, 5 February 1987
- Masi Magam - Saturday, 14 February 1987
Which month of 1987 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
July 1987 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Ani Thirumanjanam, Aadi Krithigai, Aadi Amavasai, Aadi Pooram.
Which traditional year does 1987 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1987 spans Shaka Samvat 1908 – 1909. 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 1987 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1987 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 1987?
1987 had 4 eclipses:
- 29 March 1987 - Partial solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 14 April 1987 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 23 September 1987 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 7 October 1987 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra 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 1987?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1987:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 3 February 1987
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 16 June 1987
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 26 October 1987, moving retrograde
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 17 December 1987
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 1987?
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.
