Tamil Calendar 2021
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
January 2021 Margazhi – Thai
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Thai Pongal
Tithi 10:17 AM, Jan 13 – 9:01 AM
The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara.
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Mattu Pongal
Tithi 8:45 AM, Jan 14 – 8:05 AM, Jan 15
The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 9:01 AM, Jan 18 – 10:58 AM, Jan 19
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Thaipusam
Tithi 1:18 AM, Jan 28 – 12:56 AM, Jan 29
Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai.
February 2021 Thai – Maasi
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 5:46 AM, Feb 17 – 8:09 AM, Feb 18
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Ratha Saptami
Tithi 8:18 AM, Feb 18 – 10:58 AM, Feb 19
Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami.
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Masi Magam
Tithi 3:57 PM, Feb 26 – 1:48 PM, Feb 27
On the Magham star of the Tamil month Maasi, temple deities are taken in procession to the sea and rivers for a holy bath.
March 2021 Maasi – Panguni
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Maha Shivaratri
Tithi 2:35 PM, Mar 10 – 2:39 PM, Mar 11
The great night of Lord Shiva.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 2:09 AM, Mar 19 – 4:51 AM, Mar 20
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Panguni Uthiram
Tithi 3:27 AM, Mar 28 – 12:25 AM, Mar 29
The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati.
April 2021 Panguni – Chithirai
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Puthandu (Tamil New Year)
Tithi 10:13 AM, Apr 13 – 12:47 PM, Apr 14
The Tamil solar new year begins as the Sun enters Mesha; homes are decorated with kolam and the Maruvilakku.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 8:34 PM, Apr 17 – 10:41 PM, Apr 18
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Chithirai Thiruvizha
Tithi 12:47 PM, Apr 26 – 9:01 AM, Apr 27
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.
May 2021 Chithirai – Vaikasi
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 11:44 AM, May 17 – 12:35 PM, May 18
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
June 2021 Vaikasi – Aani
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 10:58 PM, Jun 15 – 10:55 PM, Jun 16
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Ani Thirumanjanam
Tithi 10:02 PM, Jun 17 – 8:47 PM, Jun 18
The grand sacred anointing of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram on the Uttiram (Uttara Phalguni) star of the Tamil month Aani.
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Vijayadashami
Tithi 6:49 PM, Jun 19 – 4:25 PM, Jun 20
The tenth day of Navratri, auspicious for vidyarambham.
July 2021 Aani – Aadi
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 7:27 AM, Jul 15 – 6:06 AM, Jul 16
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
August 2021 Aadi – Aavani
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Aadi Perukku
Tithi 7:54 AM, Aug 1 – 10:28 AM, Aug 2
On the 18th of Aadi, the swelling of the Cauvery and other rivers is celebrated with prayers to the waters.
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Aadi Krithigai
Tithi 7:54 AM, Aug 1 – 10:28 AM, Aug 2
Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi.
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Aadi Amavasai Vrat
Tithi 7:15 PM, Aug 7 – 7:25 PM, Aug 8
The new moon of Aadi, observed with tarpan for ancestors and ritual baths in the sea and rivers.
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Aadi Pooram
Tithi 6:09 PM, Aug 10 – 4:56 PM, Aug 11
The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 1:45 PM, Aug 13 – 11:51 AM, Aug 14
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat
Tithi 10:54 PM, Aug 19 – 8:48 PM, Aug 20
Married women worship Goddess Lakshmi on the Friday before the full moon for the family's well-being.
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Avani Avittam (Upakarma)
Tithi 6:58 PM, Aug 21 – 5:28 PM, Aug 22
Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima.
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Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami)
Tithi 11:25 PM, Aug 29 – 2:00 AM, Aug 31
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.
September 2021 Aavani – Purattasi
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Vinayagar Chaturthi
Tithi 12:18 AM, Sep 10 – 9:58 PM, Sep 10
The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 7:37 PM, Sep 11 – 5:20 PM, Sep 12
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
October 2021 Purattasi – Aippasi
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Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tithi 6:49 PM, Oct 14 – 5:59 PM, Oct 15
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.
November 2021 Aippasi – Karthikai
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Deepavali
Tithi 6:03 AM, Nov 4 – 2:52 AM, Nov 5
The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi).
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 10:22 AM, Nov 9 – 8:25 AM, Nov 10
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam)
Tithi 10:22 AM, Nov 9 – 8:25 AM, Nov 10
Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman.
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Karthigai Deepam
Tithi 11:57 AM, Nov 18 – 2:26 PM, Nov 19
The Tamil festival of lights on the Krittika star of Karthigai — rows of agal vilakku are lit, and the Maha Deepam blazes atop Tiruvannamalai.
December 2021 Karthikai – Margazhi
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Subramanya Shashti
Tithi 9:22 PM, Dec 8 – 7:47 PM, Dec 9
Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 9:22 PM, Dec 8 – 7:47 PM, Dec 9
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Dhanurmasam Begins
Tithi 2:01 AM, Dec 16 – 4:38 AM, Dec 17
The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu.
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Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan)
Tithi 10:09 AM, Dec 19 – 12:37 PM, Dec 20
Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
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 entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Dates are shown for the current and the coming year.