Tamil Calendar 2017
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
March 2017
Shaka Samvat 1938 (Durmukha) · Shaka Samvat 1939 (Hemalambi)
Maasi – Panguni
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 2017 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 2017, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 3 January and closing with Vaikunta Ekadashi on 29 December. Of these, 15 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1938 – 1939.
January 2017 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 Jan | Sun |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 11 Jan | Wed |
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. |
Krishna Dwitiya |
| 15 Jan | Sun |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Tritiya |
February 2017 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 3 Feb | Fri |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 10 Feb | Fri |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 24 Feb | Fri |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2017 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 11 Mar | 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. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
April 2017 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 9 Apr | Sun |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 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 Tritiya |
May 2017 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 10 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 |
| 30 May | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 2017 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun | Wed |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 28 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Jun | 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 |
July 2017 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Dashami |
| 23 Jul | Sun | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 26 Jul | Wed |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 28 Jul | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2017 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Wed |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Shukla Dashami |
| 4 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Dwadashi |
| 7 Aug | Mon |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 15 Aug | Tue |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 25 Aug | Fri |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 27 Aug | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
September 2017 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 30 Sep | Sat |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
October 2017 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct | Wed |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 25 Oct | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 26 Oct | Thu |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
November 2017 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Nov | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 24 Nov | Fri |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 2017 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec | Sat |
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 | Sat |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 24 Dec | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 29 Dec | Fri |
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 2017
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 2017, covering Shaka Samvat 1938 – 1939. 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 2017 | 13 Jan 2017 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 2017 | 12 Feb 2017 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 2017 | 13 Mar 2017 | 29 |
| Panguni | 14 Mar 2017 | 13 Apr 2017 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 2017 | 14 May 2017 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 2017 | 14 Jun 2017 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 2017 | 15 Jul 2017 | 31 |
| Aadi | 16 Jul 2017 | 16 Aug 2017 | 32 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 2017 | 16 Sep 2017 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 2017 | 16 Oct 2017 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 17 Oct 2017 | 15 Nov 2017 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 16 Nov 2017 | 15 Dec 2017 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 2017 | 31 Dec 2017 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2017
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 2017 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 2 were above the horizon somewhere in India. Puthandu (Tamil New Year) fell on 14 April, 1 day earlier in the year than in 2016 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2017
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 6:13 AM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Thaipusam | Thai Krishna Pratipada | Penumbral only |
| 26 Feb 8:23 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 2 days after Maha Shivaratri | Maasi Amavasya | Not visible |
| 7 Aug 11:50 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Avani Avittam (Upakarma) | Aadi Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 21 Aug 11:55 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Aavani Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these. A penumbral (Upachhaya) eclipse is not counted as a grahan.
Guru and Shani in 2017
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jan 7:40 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
| 21 Jun 4:40 AM | Shani (Saturn) | Dhanu → Vrishchika re-entry while retrograde |
| 12 Sep 7:00 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Tula |
| 26 Oct 3:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Vrishchika → Dhanu |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Karka on 18 August 2017, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 2017
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 2017?
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 2017, of which 15 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Tuesday, 3 January 2017, and the last is Vaikunta Ekadashi on Friday, 29 December 2017.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 2017?
The first major observances of 2017 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Sunday, 8 January 2017
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Wednesday, 11 January 2017
- Thai Pongal - Saturday, 14 January 2017
- Mattu Pongal - Sunday, 15 January 2017
- Ratha Saptami - Friday, 3 February 2017
- Thaipusam - Friday, 10 February 2017
Which month of 2017 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 2017 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Aadi Perukku, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami), Vinayagar Chaturthi, Skanda Shashthi.
Which traditional year does 2017 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2017 spans Shaka Samvat 1938 – 1939. 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 2017 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2017 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 2017?
2017 had 4 eclipses:
- 11 February 2017 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), penumbral only, so no Sutak was observed
- 26 February 2017 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 7 August 2017 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 21 August 2017 - Total solar eclipse (Surya 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 2017?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2017:
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 26 January 2017
- Shani (Saturn) entered Vrishchika on 21 June 2017, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Tula on 12 September 2017
- Shani (Saturn) entered Dhanu on 26 October 2017
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 2017?
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.
