Tamil Calendar 2023
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
January 2023 Margazhi – Thai
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Vaikunta Ekadashi
Tithi 7:08 PM, Jan 1 – 8:20 PM, Jan 2
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil.
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Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan)
Tithi 2:14 AM, Jan 6 – 4:35 AM, Jan 7
Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi.
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Thai Pongal
Tithi 7:28 PM, Jan 14 – 7:52 PM
The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara.
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Mattu Pongal
Tithi 7:51 PM, Jan 15 – 7:27 PM, Jan 16
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 10:07 AM, Jan 26 – 9:10 AM, Jan 27
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Ratha Saptami
Tithi 8:48 AM, Jan 27 – 8:43 AM, Jan 28
Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami.
February 2023 Thai – Maasi
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Thaipusam
Tithi 9:30 PM, Feb 4 – 11:59 PM, Feb 5
Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai.
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Maha Shivaratri
Tithi 11:37 PM, Feb 17 – 8:05 PM, Feb 18
The great night of Lord Shiva.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 12:29 AM, Feb 25 – 12:06 AM, Feb 26
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
March 2023 Maasi – Panguni
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Masi Magam
Tithi 2:10 PM, Mar 5 – 4:18 PM, Mar 6
On the Magham star of the Tamil month Maasi, temple deities are taken in procession to the sea and rivers for a holy bath.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 4:26 PM, Mar 26 – 5:24 PM, Mar 27
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
April 2023 Panguni – Chithirai
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Panguni Uthiram
Tithi 8:16 AM, Apr 4 – 9:19 AM, Apr 5
The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati.
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Puthandu (Tamil New Year)
Tithi 1:35 AM, Apr 14 – 11:17 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 9:31 AM, Apr 25 – 11:27 AM, Apr 26
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
May 2023 Chithirai – Vaikasi
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Chithirai Thiruvizha
Tithi 11:45 PM, May 4 – 11:13 PM, May 5
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.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 3:01 AM, May 25 – 5:15 AM, May 26
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Vijayadashami
Tithi 11:58 AM, May 29 – 1:10 PM, May 30
The tenth day of Navratri, auspicious for vidyarambham.
June 2023 Vaikasi – Aani
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Vaikasi Visakam
Tithi 12:59 PM, Jun 2 – 11:18 AM, Jun 3
The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 7:54 PM, Jun 23 – 10:19 PM, Jun 24
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Ani Thirumanjanam
Tithi 12:26 AM, Jun 26 – 2:16 AM, Jun 27
The grand sacred anointing of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram on the Uttiram (Uttara Phalguni) star of the Tamil month Aani.
July 2023 Aani – Aadi
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Aadi Amavasai Vrat
Tithi 10:07 PM, Jul 16 – 11:57 PM, Jul 17
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 7:00 AM, Jul 21 – 9:26 AM, Jul 22
The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 11:51 AM, Jul 23 – 1:44 PM, Jul 24
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
August 2023 Aadi – Aavani
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Aadi Perukku
Tithi 8:05 PM, Aug 2 – 4:15 PM, Aug 3
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 3:52 AM, Aug 9 – 3:55 AM, Aug 10
Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 2:01 AM, Aug 22 – 3:19 AM, Aug 23
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat
Tithi 3:11 AM, Aug 25 – 2:21 AM, Aug 26
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 10:57 AM, Aug 30 – 7:05 AM, Aug 31
Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima.
September 2023 Aavani – Purattasi
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Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami)
Tithi 3:30 PM, Sep 6 – 4:11 PM, Sep 7
The midnight birth of Lord Krishna.
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Vinayagar Chaturthi
Tithi 12:46 PM, Sep 18 – 1:45 PM, Sep 19
The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 2:24 PM, Sep 20 – 2:17 PM, Sep 21
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
October 2023 Purattasi – Aippasi
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Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tithi 5:47 PM, Oct 23 – 3:15 PM, Oct 24
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami.
November 2023 Aippasi – Karthikai
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Deepavali
Tithi 2:06 PM, Nov 11 – 2:47 PM, Nov 12
The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi).
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 9:22 AM, Nov 18 – 7:23 AM, Nov 19
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam)
Tithi 9:22 AM, Nov 18 – 7:23 AM, Nov 19
Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman.
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Karthigai Deepam
Tithi 5:19 PM, Nov 25 – 3:52 PM, Nov 26
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 2023 Karthikai – Margazhi
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Dhanurmasam Begins
Tithi 10:31 PM, Dec 15 – 8:00 PM, Dec 16
The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu.
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Subramanya Shashti
Tithi 5:31 PM, Dec 17 – 3:13 PM, Dec 18
Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi.
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Skanda Shashthi Vrat
Tithi 5:31 PM, Dec 17 – 3:13 PM, Dec 18
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Vaikunta Ekadashi
Tithi 9:30 AM, Dec 21 – 8:17 AM, Dec 22
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil.
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Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan)
Tithi 6:03 AM, Dec 27 – 6:33 AM, Dec 28
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.