Tamil Calendar 2006
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
July 2006
Shaka Samvat 1928 (Vyaya)
Aani – Aadi
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 2006 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 42 dates in 2006, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 4 January and closing with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 30 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). January is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1927 – 1928.
January 2006 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 10 Jan | Tue |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 13 Jan | Fri |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Jan | Sat |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 15 Jan | Sun |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Pratipada |
| 15 Jan | Sun |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Krishna Pratipada |
February 2006 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 4 Feb | Sat |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 14 Feb | Tue |
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 | Sun |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2006 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 15 Mar | Wed |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Krishna Pratipada |
April 2006 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 12 Apr | Wed |
Panguni Uthiram The celestial weddings on the Uthiram star of the full moon of Panguni. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 14 Apr | Fri |
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku. |
Krishna Pratipada |
May 2006 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 13 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 |
June 2006 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 9 Jun | Fri |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 10 Jun | Sat |
Vaikasi Visakam The birth star of Lord Murugan, the Visakam nakshatra of Vaikasi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
July 2006 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 2 Jul | Sun |
Ani Thirumanjanam The grand sacred anointing of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram on the Uttiram (Uttara Phalguni) star of the Tamil month Aani. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 20 Jul | Thu |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 25 Jul | Tue | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 29 Jul | Sat |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 31 Jul | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
August 2006 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 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 Navami |
| 4 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dashami |
| 9 Aug | Wed |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 16 Aug | Wed |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 27 Aug | Sun |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 29 Aug | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
October 2006 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | Mon |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 21 Oct | Sat |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 27 Oct | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Oct | Sat |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
November 2006 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 26 Nov | Sun |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 2006 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Dec | 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 Trayodashi |
| 16 Dec | Sat |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 25 Dec | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Dec | Sat |
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 2006
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 2006, covering Shaka Samvat 1927 – 1928. 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 2006 | 14 Jan 2006 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 2006 | 12 Feb 2006 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 2006 | 14 Mar 2006 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 2006 | 14 Apr 2006 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 15 Apr 2006 | 14 May 2006 | 30 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 2006 | 15 Jun 2006 | 32 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 2006 | 16 Jul 2006 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 2006 | 16 Aug 2006 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 2006 | 16 Sep 2006 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 2006 | 17 Oct 2006 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 2006 | 16 Nov 2006 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 2006 | 16 Dec 2006 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 17 Dec 2006 | 31 Dec 2006 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 2006
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 2006 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 3 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Thaipusam fell on 15 January, 10 days earlier in the year than in 2005 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2006
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Mar 5:17 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Panguni Uthiram | Panguni Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 29 Mar 3:41 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Panguni Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 8 Sep 12:21 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aavani Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 22 Sep 5:10 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Purattasi Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2006
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 10:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Tula → Vrishchika |
| 1 Nov 7:20 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Karka → Simha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Kumbha on 12 October 2006, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 2006
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 2006?
The Tamil Calendar lists 42 dates in 2006, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Wednesday, 4 January 2006, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Saturday, 30 December 2006.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 2006?
The first major observances of 2006 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Tuesday, 10 January 2006
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Friday, 13 January 2006
- Thai Pongal - Saturday, 14 January 2006
- Mattu Pongal - Sunday, 15 January 2006
- Thaipusam - Sunday, 15 January 2006
- Ratha Saptami - Saturday, 4 February 2006
Which month of 2006 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
January 2006 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Skanda Shashthi, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan), Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Thaipusam.
Which traditional year does 2006 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2006 spans Shaka Samvat 1927 – 1928. 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 2006 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2006 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 2006?
2006 had 4 eclipses:
- 15 March 2006 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 29 March 2006 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 8 September 2006 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 22 September 2006 - Annular 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 2006?
Yes - 2 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2006:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Vrishchika on 27 October 2006
- Shani (Saturn) entered Simha on 1 November 2006
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 2006?
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.
