Tamil Calendar
The Tamil festival calendar. Tamil festivals and vrats month by month, with the date and tithi timing of each observance.
January 2026
Shaka Samvat 1947 (Vishvavasu)
Margazhi – Thai
Festivals & Vrats in January 2026
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Margazhi Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan)
Tithi 6:51 PM, Jan 2 – 3:31 PM, Jan 3
Arudra Darshan celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja on the Thiruvathirai (Ardra) star of Margazhi.
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Thai Pongal
Tithi 3:19 PM, Jan 13 – 5:53 PM
The Tamil harvest thanksgiving on the Sun's entry into Makara.
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Mattu Pongal
Tithi 5:55 PM, Jan 14 – 8:19 PM, 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 1:47 AM, Jan 24 – 12:47 AM, Jan 25
A vrat dedicated to Lord Kartikeya (Murugan / Skanda).
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Ratha Saptami
Tithi 12:41 AM, Jan 25 – 11:16 PM, Jan 25
Surya's chariot turns north — devotees bathe at dawn and worship the Sun god on Magha Shukla Saptami.
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.
Frequently asked questions about Tamil Calendar
How does the Tamil calendar reckon months?
By the Sun, not the Moon. The twelve months - Chithirai, Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi, Aavani, Purattasi, Aippasi, Karthikai, Margazhi, Thai, Maasi, Panguni - each begin when the Sun enters a sidereal sign, so their lengths vary from twenty-nine to thirty-two days.
When is the Tamil new year?
Puthandu, on Chithirai 1 - the Mesha Sankranti, around 14 April. Thai 1, at Makar Sankranti in January, is Pongal, the harvest festival, and is often mistaken for the new year.
Why does the month sometimes start a day later than expected?
Because the Tamil rule uses sunset: if the Sankranti falls after sunset, the month begins the next day. Kerala uses an afternoon cutoff and Bengal the next day, which is why the same ingress starts these months on different dates.
What is the difference between Thirukanitha and Vakya?
Two computational traditions. Thirukanitha follows modern astronomical positions; the older Vakya almanacs use traditional mnemonic tables and can differ by a day. This page follows Thirukanitha, and a Vakya panchangam may disagree slightly.
Which festivals are particular to it?
Pongal, Puthandu, Aadi Perukku, Aavani Avittam, Purattasi Saturdays, Karthikai Deepam, Margazhi with Thiruvathirai, and Thai Pusam. The Tamil Panchangam gives the day-by-day almanac.
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.
