Tamil Calendar 2001
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
September 2001
Shaka Samvat 1923 (Vrisha)
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 2001 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 40 dates in 2001, opening with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 6 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 30 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1922 – 1923. 2001 carries an Adhik Maas (Ashwina (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 2001 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jan | Sat |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 9 Jan | Tue |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 14 Jan | Sun |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Panchami |
| 15 Jan | Mon |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Shashthi |
| 30 Jan | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 31 Jan | Wed |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
February 2001 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb | Wed |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 21 Feb | Wed |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2001 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 8 Mar | Thu |
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 |
| 30 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 2001 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr | Sat |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
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 Saptami |
| 28 Apr | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
May 2001 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May | Mon |
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 |
| 28 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
June 2001 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jun | Mon |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 26 Jun | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
July 2001 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul | Tue |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 20 Jul | Fri | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 24 Jul | Tue |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 25 Jul | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2001 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Thu |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 3 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 4 Aug | Sat |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 12 Aug | Sun |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 22 Aug | Wed |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 23 Aug | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
September 2001 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 2001 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 26 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 2001 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov | Wed |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 20 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 21 Nov | Wed |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 29 Nov | Thu |
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 2001 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec | Sun |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 20 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 21 Dec | Fri |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Dec | Wed |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 30 Dec | Sun |
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 2001
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 2001, covering Shaka Samvat 1922 – 1923. 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 2001 | 13 Jan 2001 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 2001 | 12 Feb 2001 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 2001 | 14 Mar 2001 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 2001 | 13 Apr 2001 | 30 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 2001 | 14 May 2001 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 2001 | 14 Jun 2001 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 2001 | 16 Jul 2001 | 32 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 2001 | 16 Aug 2001 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 2001 | 16 Sep 2001 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 2001 | 17 Oct 2001 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 2001 | 16 Nov 2001 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 2001 | 15 Dec 2001 | 29 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 2001 | 31 Dec 2001 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2001
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 2001 brought 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. The year also carried an Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month of Ashwina, running from 18 September 2001 to 16 October 2001. Thai Pongal fell on 14 January, 1 day earlier in the year than in 2000 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2001
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 1:50 AM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 21 Jun 5:33 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aani Amavasya | Not visible |
| 5 Jul 8:25 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aani Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 15 Dec 2:21 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 1 day before Dhanurmasam Begins | Karthikai Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 30 Dec 3:59 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Purnima | Penumbral only |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2001
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 7:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Vrishabha → Mithuna |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 2001
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 2001?
The Tamil Calendar lists 40 dates in 2001, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Saturday, 6 January 2001, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Sunday, 30 December 2001.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 2001?
The first major observances of 2001 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Saturday, 6 January 2001
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Tuesday, 9 January 2001
- Thai Pongal - Sunday, 14 January 2001
- Mattu Pongal - Monday, 15 January 2001
- Ratha Saptami - Wednesday, 31 January 2001
- Thaipusam - Wednesday, 7 February 2001
Which month of 2001 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 2001 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 2001 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2001 spans Shaka Samvat 1922 – 1923. 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 2001 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 2001 carried an Adhik Maas (Ashwina (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 2001 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 2001?
2001 had 5 eclipses:
- 10 January 2001 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 21 June 2001 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 5 July 2001 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 15 December 2001 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 30 December 2001 - 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 2 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2001?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 2001:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Mithuna on 16 June 2001
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 2001?
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.
