Tamil Calendar 2010
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
December 2010
Shaka Samvat 1932 (Vikriti)
Karthikai – Margazhi
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 2010 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 38 dates in 2010, opening with Thai Pongal on 14 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 22 December. Of these, 13 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 7 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1931 – 1932. 2010 carries an Adhik Maas (Vaishakha (Adhik)), the extra lunar month that pushes several festivals later than usual.
January 2010 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Thu |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 15 Jan | Fri |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Jan | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 22 Jan | Fri |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 30 Jan | Sat |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
February 2010 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb | Fri |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 19 Feb | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Feb | Sun |
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 Purnima |
March 2010 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 29 Mar | Mon |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
April 2010 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 Amavasya |
| 19 Apr | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Apr | 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 |
May 2010 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 May | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 27 May | Thu |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Purnima |
June 2010 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 19 Jun | Sat |
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 2010 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2010 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 Ashtami |
| 4 Aug | Wed |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 10 Aug | Tue | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 12 Aug | Thu |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 14 Aug | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 20 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 24 Aug | Tue |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
September 2010 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep | Thu |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 11 Sep | Sat |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 13 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 2010 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 17 Oct | Sun |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 2010 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov | Fri |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 11 Nov | Thu |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 21 Nov | 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 Purnima |
December 2010 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 11 Dec | Sat |
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 Dashami |
| 17 Dec | Fri |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 22 Dec | Wed |
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 2010
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 2010, covering Shaka Samvat 1931 – 1932. 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 2010 | 14 Jan 2010 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 2010 | 12 Feb 2010 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 2010 | 14 Mar 2010 | 30 |
| Panguni | 15 Mar 2010 | 14 Apr 2010 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 15 Apr 2010 | 14 May 2010 | 30 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 2010 | 15 Jun 2010 | 32 |
| Aani | 16 Jun 2010 | 16 Jul 2010 | 31 |
| Aadi | 17 Jul 2010 | 16 Aug 2010 | 31 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 2010 | 16 Sep 2010 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 2010 | 17 Oct 2010 | 31 |
| Aippasi | 18 Oct 2010 | 16 Nov 2010 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 17 Nov 2010 | 16 Dec 2010 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 17 Dec 2010 | 31 Dec 2010 | 15 |
What happened in the sky in 2010
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 2010 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 Vaishakha, running from 15 April 2010 to 14 May 2010. Ratha Saptami fell on 22 January, 11 days earlier in the year than in 2009 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2010
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 12:52 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Margazhi Krishna Pratipada | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 15 Jan 12:36 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) on Mattu Pongal | Thai Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 26 Jun 5:08 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aani Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 12 Jul 1:03 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aani Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 21 Dec 1:46 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day before Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Purnima | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 3 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2010
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 8:10 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
| 1 Nov 1:00 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Meena → Kumbha re-entry while retrograde |
| 6 Dec 9:20 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Meena |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 2010
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 2010?
The Tamil Calendar lists 38 dates in 2010, of which 13 are vrats. The first is Thai Pongal on Thursday, 14 January 2010, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Wednesday, 22 December 2010.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 2010?
The first major observances of 2010 are:
- Thai Pongal - Thursday, 14 January 2010
- Mattu Pongal - Friday, 15 January 2010
- Ratha Saptami - Friday, 22 January 2010
- Thaipusam - Saturday, 30 January 2010
- Maha Shivaratri - Friday, 12 February 2010
- Masi Magam - Sunday, 28 February 2010
Which month of 2010 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 2010 is the fullest month with 7 dates, including Aadi Perukku, Aadi Krithigai, Aadi Amavasai, Aadi Pooram, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma).
Which traditional year does 2010 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2010 spans Shaka Samvat 1931 – 1932. 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 2010 have an Adhik Maas?
Yes. 2010 carried an Adhik Maas (Vaishakha (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 2010 dates can look out of place beside a neighbouring year.
Were there any eclipses in 2010?
2010 had 5 eclipses:
- 1 January 2010 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 15 January 2010 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 26 June 2010 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 12 July 2010 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 21 December 2010 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 3 of these were kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 2010?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2010:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 2 May 2010
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 1 November 2010, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Meena on 6 December 2010
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 2010?
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.
