Tamil Calendar 2021
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
October 2021
Shaka Samvat 1943 (Plava)
Purattasi – Aippasi
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 2021 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 36 dates in 2021, opening with Thai Pongal on 14 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 20 December. Of these, 13 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 8 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1942 – 1943.
January 2021 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Thu |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Shukla Pratipada |
| 15 Jan | Fri |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 18 Jan | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 28 Jan | Thu |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Purnima |
February 2021 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 19 Feb | Fri |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 27 Feb | 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 Purnima |
March 2021 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar | Thu |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
| 19 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 28 Mar | Sun |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Purnima |
April 2021 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. |
Shukla Dwitiya |
| 18 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 27 Apr | Tue |
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 2021 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 2021 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 18 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 Ashtami |
July 2021 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2021 Aadi – Aavani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Aug | Mon |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Navami |
| 2 Aug | Mon |
Aadi Perukku On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters. |
Krishna Navami |
| 8 Aug | Sun | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 11 Aug | Wed |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Tritiya |
| 13 Aug | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 20 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Trayodashi |
| 22 Aug | Sun |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 30 Aug | Mon |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
September 2021 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep | Fri |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 12 Sep | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
October 2021 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct | Fri |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Dashami |
November 2021 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov | Thu |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 9 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 10 Nov | Wed |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
| 19 Nov | Fri |
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 2021 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 9 Dec | Thu |
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 Trayodashi |
| 20 Dec | Mon |
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 2021
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 2021, covering Shaka Samvat 1942 – 1943. 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 2021 | 13 Jan 2021 | 13 |
| Thai | 14 Jan 2021 | 12 Feb 2021 | 30 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 2021 | 13 Mar 2021 | 29 |
| Panguni | 14 Mar 2021 | 13 Apr 2021 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 2021 | 14 May 2021 | 31 |
| Vaikasi | 15 May 2021 | 14 Jun 2021 | 31 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 2021 | 15 Jul 2021 | 31 |
| Aadi | 16 Jul 2021 | 16 Aug 2021 | 32 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 2021 | 16 Sep 2021 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 2021 | 16 Oct 2021 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 17 Oct 2021 | 15 Nov 2021 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 16 Nov 2021 | 15 Dec 2021 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 2021 | 31 Dec 2021 | 16 |
What happened in the sky in 2021
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 2021 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 2020 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2021
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 4:48 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Vaikasi Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 10 Jun 4:11 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Vaikasi Amavasya | Not visible |
| 19 Nov 2:32 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Karthigai Deepam | Karthikai Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 4 Dec 1:03 PM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Karthikai Amavasya | Not visible |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 2 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2021
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 12:30 AM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
| 14 Sep 2:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kumbha → Makara re-entry while retrograde |
| 20 Nov 11:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Makara → Kumbha |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 2021
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 2021?
The Tamil Calendar lists 36 dates in 2021, of which 13 are vrats. The first is Thai Pongal on Thursday, 14 January 2021, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Monday, 20 December 2021.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 2021?
The first major observances of 2021 are:
- Thai Pongal - Thursday, 14 January 2021
- Mattu Pongal - Friday, 15 January 2021
- Thaipusam - Thursday, 28 January 2021
- Ratha Saptami - Friday, 19 February 2021
- Masi Magam - Saturday, 27 February 2021
- Maha Shivaratri - Thursday, 11 March 2021
Which month of 2021 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 2021 is the fullest month with 8 dates, including Aadi Krithigai, Aadi Perukku, Aadi Amavasai, Aadi Pooram, Skanda Shashthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Avani Avittam (Upakarma), Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami).
Which traditional year does 2021 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2021 spans Shaka Samvat 1942 – 1943. 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 2021 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 2021 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 2021?
2021 had 4 eclipses:
- 26 May 2021 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 10 June 2021 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 19 November 2021 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
- 4 December 2021 - Total 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 2021?
Yes - 3 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2021:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 6 April 2021
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Makara on 14 September 2021, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Kumbha on 20 November 2021
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 2021?
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.
