Tamil Calendar 2028
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
December 2028
Shaka Samvat 1950 (Kilaka)
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 2028 - festivals and vrats through the year
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 2028, opening with Skanda Shashthi on 2 January and closing with Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on 31 December. Of these, 14 are vrats (fasting observances). August is the fullest month with 6 dates. The year runs through Shaka Samvat 1949 – 1950.
January 2028 Margazhi – Thai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 8 Jan | Sat |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 11 Jan | Tue |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 15 Jan | Sat |
Thai Pongal The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara. |
Krishna Chaturthi |
| 16 Jan | Sun |
Mattu Pongal The third day of Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured for their role in farming. |
Krishna Panchami |
February 2028 Thai – Maasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 3 Feb | Thu |
Ratha Saptami Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami. |
Shukla Saptami |
| 9 Feb | Wed |
Thaipusam Devotees of Lord Murugan carry kavadi in penance and thanksgiving on the Pusam star of Thai. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 23 Feb | Wed |
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva. |
Krishna Trayodashi |
March 2028 Maasi – Panguni
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
| 10 Mar | Fri |
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 |
| 31 Mar | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
April 2028 Panguni – Chithirai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Apr | Sat |
Panguni Uthiram The Uthiram star of Panguni, celebrating the celestial weddings of Murugan-Deivanai and Shiva-Parvati. |
Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 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 Panchami |
| 30 Apr | Sun | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
May 2028 Chithirai – Vaikasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 May | Mon |
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 |
| 29 May | Mon | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
June 2028 Vaikasi – Aani
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun | Mon |
Vaikasi Visakam The Visakam star of Vaikasi, celebrated as the birth star of Lord Murugan with special temple worship. |
Shukla Trayodashi |
| 27 Jun | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 29 Jun | Thu |
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 2028 Aani – Aadi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul | Tue |
Aadi Krithigai Lord Murugan is worshipped with lamps and abhishekam on the Krittika star of the Tamil month Aadi. |
Krishna Ekadashi |
| 22 Jul | Sat | Aadi Amavasai Vrat | Krishna Amavasya |
| 25 Jul | Tue |
Aadi Pooram The birth of Andal (Kodhai) on the Pooram star of Aadi, celebrated grandly at Srivilliputhur. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 26 Jul | Wed | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
August 2028 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 Dwadashi |
| 4 Aug | Fri | Varalakshmi Vratham Vrat | Shukla Chaturdashi |
| 5 Aug | Sat |
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) Brahmins renew the sacred thread (Yajur Upakarma) on Shravana Purnima. |
Shukla Purnima |
| 13 Aug | Sun |
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) The midnight birth of Lord Krishna. |
Krishna Ashtami |
| 23 Aug | Wed |
Vinayagar Chaturthi The birth of Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. |
Shukla Chaturthi |
| 25 Aug | Fri | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Shashthi |
September 2028 Aavani – Purattasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Sep | Sat | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Sep | Wed |
Ayudha Puja / Saraswati Puja
Tools, instruments and books are placed before Goddess Saraswati and worshipped on Vijayadashami. |
Shukla Navami |
October 2028 Purattasi – Aippasi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct | Tue |
Deepavali The festival of lights, kept with the Ganga snanam at dawn (Naraka Chaturdashi). |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
| 23 Oct | Mon |
Skanda Sashti (Soorasamharam) Six days of worship of Lord Murugan culminate in Soorasamharam — his victory over the demon Surapadman. |
Shukla Shashthi |
November 2028 Aippasi – Karthikai
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov | Tue | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 22 Nov | Wed |
Subramanya Shashti Lord Subramanya (Kartikeya) is worshipped at Kukke and beyond on Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi. |
Shukla Shashthi |
December 2028 Karthikai – Margazhi
| Date | Day | Festival / Vrat | Tithi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec | 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 |
| 16 Dec | Sat |
Dhanurmasam Begins The month of dawn Vishnu worship (Tiruppavai / Dhanurmasa) begins as the Sun enters Dhanu. |
Krishna Amavasya |
| 21 Dec | Thu | Skanda Shashthi Vrat | Shukla Panchami |
| 27 Dec | Wed |
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The Margazhi Ekadashi when the gates of Vaikuntha are said to open; Vishnu devotees fast and keep vigil. |
Shukla Ekadashi |
| 31 Dec | Sun |
Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi. |
Shukla Purnima |
Months of the Tamil Calendar in 2028
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 2028, covering Shaka Samvat 1949 – 1950. 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 2028 | 14 Jan 2028 | 14 |
| Thai | 15 Jan 2028 | 12 Feb 2028 | 29 |
| Maasi | 13 Feb 2028 | 13 Mar 2028 | 30 |
| Panguni | 14 Mar 2028 | 13 Apr 2028 | 31 |
| Chithirai | 14 Apr 2028 | 13 May 2028 | 30 |
| Vaikasi | 14 May 2028 | 14 Jun 2028 | 32 |
| Aani | 15 Jun 2028 | 15 Jul 2028 | 31 |
| Aadi | 16 Jul 2028 | 16 Aug 2028 | 32 |
| Aavani | 17 Aug 2028 | 16 Sep 2028 | 31 |
| Purattasi | 17 Sep 2028 | 16 Oct 2028 | 30 |
| Aippasi | 17 Oct 2028 | 15 Nov 2028 | 30 |
| Karthikai | 16 Nov 2028 | 15 Dec 2028 | 30 |
| Margazhi part | 16 Dec 2028 | 31 Dec 2028 | 16 |
What the sky brings in 2028
Beyond the dates the Tamil Calendar lists, 2028 brings 5 eclipses - 2 solar and 3 lunar - of which 3 are above the horizon somewhere in India. Puthandu (Tamil New Year) falls on 14 April, 1 day later in the year than in 2027 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 2028
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Tamil date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 9:43 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) 1 day after Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Purnima | Not visible |
| 26 Jan 8:37 PM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Thai Amavasya | Not visible |
| 6 Jul 11:49 PM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Aani Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 22 Jul 8:25 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days before Aadi Pooram | Aadi Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
| 31 Dec 10:22 PM | Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) on Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Margazhi Purnima | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal is observed for 3 of these.
Guru and Shani in 2028
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Feb 7:30 PM | Shani (Saturn) | Meena → Mesha |
| 28 Feb 7:20 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Simha re-entry while retrograde |
| 24 Jul 3:40 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Simha → Kanya |
| 26 Dec 1:50 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Tula |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu enters Dhanu on 24 June 2028, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Tamil Calendar 2028
How many festivals and vrats does the Tamil Calendar list in 2028?
The Tamil Calendar lists 41 dates in 2028, of which 14 are vrats. The first is Skanda Shashthi on Sunday, 2 January 2028, and the last is Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) on Sunday, 31 December 2028.
What are the main festival dates in the Tamil Calendar for 2028?
The first major observances of 2028 are:
- Vaikunta Ekadashi - Saturday, 8 January 2028
- Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) - Tuesday, 11 January 2028
- Thai Pongal - Saturday, 15 January 2028
- Mattu Pongal - Sunday, 16 January 2028
- Ratha Saptami - Thursday, 3 February 2028
- Thaipusam - Wednesday, 9 February 2028
Which month of 2028 has the most observances in the Tamil Calendar?
August 2028 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 2028 correspond to in the Tamil Calendar?
The Gregorian year 2028 spans Shaka Samvat 1949 – 1950. 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.
Will there be an Adhik Maas in 2028?
No. 2028 has 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.
Will there be any eclipses in 2028?
2028 has 5 eclipses:
- 12 January 2028 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 26 January 2028 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 6 July 2028 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
- 22 July 2028 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
- 31 December 2028 - Total lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal will be observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 3 of these will be kept in India.
Will Guru or Shani change sign in 2028?
Yes - 4 sign changes among the slow grahas in 2028:
- Shani (Saturn) enters Mesha on 23 February 2028
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Simha on 28 February 2028, moving retrograde
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Kanya on 24 July 2028
- Guru (Jupiter) enters Tula on 26 December 2028
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 2028?
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.
