Tamil Calendar 1999
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
November 1999
Shaka Samvat 1921 (Pramathi)
Aippasi – Karthikai
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 1999 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 37 dates in 1999, opening with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 2 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 23 December. Of these, 12 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1920 – 1921. 1999 carries an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 1999 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan | Sat |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 14 Jan | Thu |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Dwadashi |
| 15 Jan | Fri |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 22 Jan | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 24 Jan | Sun |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 31 Jan | Sun |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
February 1999 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Feb | Sun |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 21 Feb | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
March 1999 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar | Mon |
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 |
| 22 Mar | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 31 Mar | Wed |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Purnima |
April 1999 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr | Wed |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 20 Apr | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Apr | Fri |
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 1999 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 29 May | Sat |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
June 1999 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 21 Jun | Mon |
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 1999 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul | Sat |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Panchami |
| 18 Jul | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 1999 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 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 Shashthi |
| 6 Aug | Fri |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 11 Aug | Wed | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 16 Aug | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 20 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Navami |
| 26 Aug | Thu |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 1999 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep | Fri |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 13 Sep | Mon |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 15 Sep | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 1999 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct | Tue |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
November 1999 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov | Sun |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 14 Nov | Sun |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 1999 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 14 Dec | Tue |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 16 Dec | Thu |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Ashtami |
| 19 Dec | Sun |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 23 Dec | Thu |
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 1999
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 1999, covering Shaka Samvat 1920 – 1921. 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 1999 | 14 Jan 1999 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 1999 | 12 Feb 1999 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 1999 | 14 Mar 1999 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 1999 | 14 Apr 1999 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 15 Apr 1999 | 15 May 1999 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 16 May 1999 | 15 Jun 1999 | 31 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 1999 | 16 Jul 1999 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 1999 | 17 Aug 1999 | 32 |
| Aavani | 18 Aug 1999 | 17 Sep 1999 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 18 Sep 1999 | 17 Oct 1999 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 1999 | 16 Nov 1999 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 1999 | 16 Dec 1999 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 17 Dec 1999 | 31 Dec 1999 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 1999
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 1999 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Jyeshtha, running from 16 May 1999 to 13 June 1999. Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) fell on 2 January, 9 days earlier in the year than in 1998 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1999
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 9:47 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Thaipusam | Thai Purnima | Penumbral only |
| 16 Feb 12:03 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivaratri | Maasi Amavasya | Not visible |
| 28 Jul 5:03 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aadi Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 11 Aug 4:33 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aadi Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 1999
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 3:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 26 May 4:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Mesha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 11 January 1999, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 1999
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 1999?
The Tamil Calendar lists 37 dates in 1999, of which 12 are vrats. The first is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Saturday, 2 January 1999, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Thursday, 23 December 1999.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 1999?
The first major observances of 1999 are:
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Saturday, 2 January 1999
- Thai Pongal - Thursday, 14 January 1999
- Mattu Pongal - Friday, 15 January 1999
- Ratha Saptami - Sunday, 24 January 1999
- Thaipusam - Sunday, 31 January 1999
- Maha Shivaratri - Sunday, 14 February 1999
Which month of 1999 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 1999 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan), Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Skanda Shashthi, Ratha Saptami, Thaipusam.
Which traditional year does 1999 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1999 spans Shaka Samvat 1920 – 1921. 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 1999 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 1999 carried an Adhik Maas (Jyeshtha (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 1999 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 1999?
1999 had 4 eclipses:
- 31 January 1999 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 16 February 1999 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 28 July 1999 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 11 August 1999 - Total solar eclipse (Surya 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 1999?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 1999:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 13 January 1999
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mesha on 26 May 1999
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 1999?
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.
