The Tamil Calendar 2026 spans the traditional year Parabhava Varudam (பராபவ ஆண்டு) — the 40th year in the 60-year Vikram Samvatsara cycle — and corresponds to Thiruvalluvar Year 2057 in the official Tamil Nadu Government calendar system.
The Tamil calendar is solar-based (Surya Siddhanta), anchored to the sun's transit through the twelve zodiac signs. Each Tamil month begins when the sun enters a new Rashi, making Tamil month dates far more stable than lunar calendar months. The Tamil New Year (Puthandu) always falls around April 14, when the sun crosses into Aries.
2026 is an exceptional year: due to the Adhika Masa (intercalary month), this year has 26 Ekadashi dates instead of the usual 24, and no solar or lunar eclipses occur throughout the year — a rare cosmic distinction for Parabhava Varudam.
Parabhava (பராபவ) is the 40th name in the traditional 60-year Vikram Samvatsara cycle. In Sanskrit, Para means transcendence or defeat, and Bhava means existence — together suggesting a year of dissolution of established orders and reversal of expectations.
The previous Parabhava Varudam was in 1966. Before that, 1906. The next will be 2086. Historically, Parabhava years are associated with unexpected political and social upheavals on the world stage.
For the Tamil calendar practitioner, 2026's Parabhava year has two notable distinctions: the Adhika Masa (extra intercalary month) creates a 13-month year with two extra Ekadashi fasts; and there are no solar or lunar eclipses in this entire year — a rare condition that makes all auspicious timings in 2026 exceptionally clean and unobstructed.
Unlike most Indian regional calendars which are lunisolar, the Tamil calendar is purely solar (Saura). Each month is defined by the sun's transit through one of twelve zodiac signs (Rashis) — making months vary slightly in length (29 to 32 days) but remain anchored to seasons.
Tamil Nadu has two parallel calendar systems that have coexisted for centuries, and the tension between them actively creates different festival dates today:
| Feature | Vakya Panchangam | Thiruganitha Panchangam |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Ancient Vedic slokas (unchanged ~1,000 yrs) | Modern telescopic astronomy (Drik Ganita) |
| Precession correction | No — drifts over centuries | Yes — continuously corrected |
| Who uses it | Madurai Meenakshi, Tiruchenadur, most temples | Tirupati, TN Govt, most printed calendars |
| Max discrepancy | Up to 17 nazhigai (6 hrs 48 min) on some dates | |
| Amavasai/Pournami | Minimal difference between the two systems | |
This is why two temples just 50 km apart may celebrate the same festival on different days — they follow different Panchangam traditions. No competitor calendar site explains this distinction; it is the single most common source of confusion among Tamil calendar users.
One of the most distinctive features of Tamil Panchangam is the Nazhigai (நாழிகை) time unit. Ancient Tamil astronomers divided Earth's 360° rotation into 60 equal units of 6° each — one unit = 24 minutes = one nazhigai. Therefore, one day = 60 nazhigai.
All tithi durations in Tamil Panchangam are expressed in nazhigai. For example, a tithi might last "39.36 nazhigai" — meaning it spans roughly 15 hours 44 minutes. One nazhigai = 2 muhurtha = 60 vinadi (where 1 vinadi = 24 seconds). This system predates the modern 24-hour clock by over a millennium and is unique to Tamil and South Indian Panchangam traditions.
Every day in the Tamil Panchangam is described by five core elements. The word Panchangam itself means "five limbs" (Pancha = five, Anga = limb). These five elements determine the quality and auspiciousness of every moment in the day.
| # | Element | Tamil Name | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tithi | திதி | Lunar day — one of 30 lunar days in a month | Duration expressed in nazhigai (e.g. "39.36 nazhigai" = ~15h 44m) |
| 2 | Nakshatram | நட்சத்திரம் | Lunar mansion — 27 stars the Moon transits | Key stars: Rohini, Visakam, Karthigai, Avittam, Magam |
| 3 | Yogam | யோகம் | 27 Sun+Moon longitude combinations | 9 auspicious, 9 mixed, 9 inauspicious — from Vishkambha to Vaidhriti |
| 4 | Karanam | கரணம் | Half-tithi unit — 11 karanas (7 moveable, 4 fixed) | Used in muhurta calculation alongside other elements |
| 5 | Vaaram | வாரம் | Weekday — 7 Tamil days, each named for a planet | Nyaayiru · Thingal · Chevvai · Budhan · Vyazhan · Velli · Sani |
The Tamil day begins at sunrise (not midnight) and runs until the next sunrise. This is why the Panchangam's date may differ from the Gregorian date for events that occur before sunrise.
Tamil Panchangam tracks more inauspicious time windows per day than any other Indian regional calendar. There are six distinct inauspicious periods alongside four auspicious windows — a level of temporal granularity found nowhere else in Indian calendar traditions.
A critical note for Chennai users: Chennai's earlier sunrise (approximately 5:43 AM in summer, vs. ~6:00 AM in Delhi) shifts all inauspicious windows earlier by 15–20 minutes compared to standard pan-India tables. Always use Chennai-specific Rahu Kalam timings, not generic national tables.
| Period | Tamil Name | Timing by Weekday | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahu Kalam | ராகு காலம் | Sun:4:30–6pm · Mon:7:30–9am · Tue:3–4:30pm · Wed:12–1:30pm · Thu:1:30–3pm · Fri:10:30am–12pm · Sat:9–10:30am | 90-min period. No new activities, travel, or purchases. |
| Yamagandam | எமகண்டம் | Sun:12–1:30pm · Mon:10:30am–12 · Tue:9–10:30am · Wed:7:30–9am · Thu:6–7:30am · Fri:3–4:30pm · Sat:1:30–3pm | Yama (death deity) period. No new ventures or long-distance travel. |
| Kuligai Neram | குளிகை நேரம் | Sun:3–4:30pm · Mon:1:30–3pm · Tue:12–1:30pm · Wed:10:30am–12 · Thu:9–10:30am · Fri:7:30–9am · Sat:6–7:30am | Gulika (Saturn's son) period. Inauspicious for all new starts. |
| Varjyam | வர்ஜ்யம் | Varies daily (lunar/nakshatra-based) | Moon in inauspicious nakshatra position. Calculated freshly each day. |
| Dur Muhurtam | துர்முஹூர்த்தம் | 2 windows of 48 min each, per day | Two 48-minute inauspicious muhurta windows per day. |
| Soolam | சூலம் | Sun:West · Mon:East · Tue:North · Wed:North · Thu:South · Fri:West · Sat:East | Directional inauspiciousness. Travel toward this direction is avoided. |
Unique to Tamil Panchangam, each Soolam day has a specific food offering (Pariharam) that neutralises the directional inauspiciousness: Sunday/Friday = Jaggery, Monday/Saturday = Curd, Tuesday/Wednesday = Milk, Thursday = Oil/Balm. Offer the item to a deity or consume it before travel in the inauspicious direction.
| Period | Tamil Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nalla Neram | நல்ல நேரம் | Occurs twice daily — morning and afternoon. Based on daily nakshatra and tithi combination. |
| Gowri Nalla Neram | கௌரி நல்ல நேரம் | Goddess Parvati's special auspicious time. Particularly used by women for religious observances and new beginnings. |
| Abhijit Muhurtam | அபிஜித் முஹூர்த்தம் | Universal 48-minute midday window. Considered the strongest auspicious period — no Panchangam element can cancel it. |
| Amrit Kalam | அமிர்த காலம் | Lunar nectar period. Calculated from the day's nakshatra. Intensifies the auspiciousness of any activity begun within it. |
Tamil Nadu is the only Indian state where two entirely different astronomical calculation systems — Vakya Panchangam (ancient slokas) and Thiruganitha Panchangam (modern Drik astronomy) — coexist, sometimes placing the same festival on different days at temples just 50 km apart. The maximum discrepancy is 17 nazhigai (6 hours 48 minutes). Madurai Meenakshi Temple follows Vakya; Tirupati and the Tamil Nadu Government follow Thiruganitha. This calendar schism is over 200 years old and has no resolution in sight.
Thai Pongal is triggered when the sun crosses exactly 270° ecliptic longitude (entering Capricorn). This solar anchor means Pongal never drifts across seasons the way Diwali does. In 2026, this occurs on January 14 — the Pongal cooking muhurta is time-sensitive to the precise minute of solar ingress.
The Nazhigai (நாழிகை) time unit divides the day into 60 units of 24 minutes each, based on Earth's 6° rotation. One Nazhigai = 2 muhurtha = 60 vinadi. Tithi durations in Tamil Panchangam are expressed in nazhigai — a system predating the modern clock by over 1,000 years.
Parabhava is the 40th of the 60-year cycle. Sanskrit: Para (transcendence/defeat) + Bhava (existence). The 2026 Parabhava year uniquely has zero eclipses and an Adhika Masa (13th month), making it astronomically distinctive. Previous: 1966. Next: 2086.
This Tamil proverb means "When Thai is born, a path opens." The month Thai (Jan–Feb) is the most auspicious for new beginnings, weddings, and house-warming ceremonies. Pongal launches the agricultural new year in Thai, making it the Tamil calendar's pivotal month.
Unlike every other Tamil festival, Aadi Perukku always falls on Aadi 18 (August 3 in 2026) — regardless of nakshatra, tithi, or weekday. Every other Tamil festival is determined by a lunar or stellar conjunction. Aadi Perukku's absolute solar date-lock is unique in all of Tamil tradition.
Tamil Deepavali (Nov 8, 2026) is celebrated on Naraka Chaturdasi morning before sunrise, marking Krishna's victory over Narakasura. North India celebrates on Amavasya night (Rama's return to Ayodhya) — the same festival, a different day, a different mythology entirely.
The Karthigai Maha Deepam (Nov 24, 2026) is a large flame lit atop Arunachala Hill at Tiruvannamalai, symbolising Shiva as the infinite column of light. The fire burns for several hours and is visible from 30 km away at night. This festival is referenced in Tamil Sangam literature over 2,000 years old.
Panguni Uthiram (Apr 1, 2026) is the only day in the Tamil calendar when three celestial weddings are believed to occur simultaneously: Shiva-Parvati, Murugan-Devasena, and Rama-Sita. This triple conjunction makes it uniquely multiply auspicious — a distinction absent from all competitor calendar pages.
On April 14, 2026, the sun's entry into Aries simultaneously triggers: Tamil Puthandu, Vishu (Kerala), Baisakhi (Punjab), Bengali Nabo Barsho, and Bohag Bihu (Assam). No other single astronomical event launches so many simultaneous national new years across the Indian subcontinent.
Every Saturday in Purattasi (Sep 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17 in 2026) is specially sacred for Vishnu devotees in Tamil Nadu. The tradition links Purattasi's Sun-in-Virgo position with Saturn's weekday to create a uniquely potent Vishnu window. This observance is not found in any other Indian state's calendar.
In 2026: Rigveda Brahmins observe Upakarma on August 26; Yajurveda Brahmins on August 27; Samaveda Brahmins on September 12. This three-way split on a single festival is unique to Tamil Nadu's Brahmin communities and creates calendar confusion even within extended families.
Tamil weekday names are planet contractions: Nyaayiru (Sun), Thingal (Moon), Chevvai (Mars), Budhan (Mercury), Vyazhan (Jupiter), Velli (Venus), Sani (Saturn). The same 7-planet week ordering appears in every ancient culture — and the Tamil system predates English usage of planetary weekday names by at least 1,500 years.
The Pongal cooking muhurta is not just "January 14 morning" — families begin boiling the Pongal rice at the precise moment the sun enters Capricorn (Makara Sankranti). In 2026, this solar ingress occurs on January 14, and the Pongal pot must overflow exactly at that moment for maximum auspiciousness.
Lord Krishna declares in Bhagavad Gita (10:35): "Masanam Margashirshoham" — "Among months I am Margashirsha." In Tamil Nadu, Andal's Thiruppavai (30 verses) and Manikkavasagar's Thiruembavai (20 verses) are recited daily for all 30 days of Margazhi (Dec 16, 2026 – Jan 13, 2027).
Masi Magam (Mar 3, 2026) requires two simultaneous conditions: Tamil month = Maasi AND Moon in Magha nakshatra. This dual requirement makes exact date calculation more complex than any other Tamil festival — in 2026, the Magam nakshatra runs from Mar 2 (07:51 AM) to Mar 3 (07:31 AM).
The Tamil Nadu Government officially uses Thiruvalluvar Year, counting from the birth of poet-saint Thiruvalluvar (~31 BCE). Gregorian 2026 = Thiruvalluvar Year 2057. This system appears in all official Tamil Nadu government communications alongside the Gregorian date.
When Aadi begins (July 17, 2026), the sun's southward journey (Dakshinayana) starts. Tamil tradition marks this transition as Aadi Pandigai — a special puja for the Goddess. The Dakshinayana is sacred to ancestors (pitru), making Aadi an intense month of Goddess worship, river festivals, and ancestral rituals.
Kolam (rice flour floor art) is a daily ritual in Tamil homes, but specific patterns are prescribed for specific nakshatra days. Five-point Kolam patterns are preferred on Rohini and Karthigai nakshatra days. This calendar-linked art tradition is undocumented on any competitor calendar site.
Each weekday carries an inauspicious travel direction (Soolam) unique to Tamil Panchangam: Sunday/Friday = West; Monday/Saturday = East; Tuesday/Wednesday = North; Thursday = South. The Pariharam (remedy) is a specific food offering to neutralise the Soolam before travel.
Chennai's earlier summer sunrise (~5:43 AM) shifts all inauspicious windows earlier by 15–20 minutes compared to Delhi or Mumbai. Standard Rahu Kalam tables assume a fixed sunrise; actual Chennai timings require city-specific calculation month by month. This is why Chennai-specific Panchangam data differs from generic national tables.
The 6-day Skanda Sashti (Nov 10–15, 2026) culminates in Soora Samharam on Nov 15 — Lord Murugan's defeat of demon Soorapadman, enacted dramatically at Tiruchendur (sea coast) and Palani (hill). This is Tamil Nadu's equivalent of Dussehra — a good-versus-evil drama in a coastal/hill landscape rather than northern plains.
Ayutha Pooja (Oct 19, 2026) is a Tamil-exclusive tradition: all tools, vehicles, machinery, and instruments are ceremonially cleaned, decorated with flowers and vermillion, and given a day of rest. Originating in Sangam-era agriculture, it has evolved to include computers, medical equipment, and smartphones — the only festival dedicated to the sanctity of tools.
Arudra Darshan — Lord Nataraja's Ananda Tandava (cosmic dance of bliss) — falls in Margazhi month when the Moon is in Thiruvathirai (Ardra) nakshatra. Because Margazhi spans Dec 16, 2026 to Jan 13, 2027, the 2025–2026 calendar year sees Arudra Darshan on both January 3, 2026 (early in the year) and December 24, 2026 (late in the year).
The Chithirai Thiruvizha at Madurai Meenakshi Temple spans the entire Chithirai month (April). April also hosts Tamil New Year (Apr 14), Meenakshi Thirukalyanam (Apr 28), and Kallazagar Ezhundarulal (Apr 30) — plus Vishu and Akshaya Tritiya. No other month in any Indian regional calendar concentrates so many major festivals in a single 30-day window.
| Date | Festival | Tamil Month | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3 | Arudra Darshan | மார்கழி | Tamil-Shaiva |
| Jan 13 | Bhogi Pandigai TN Unique | தை | State Festival |
| Jan 14 | Thai Pongal — Main Day TN Unique | தை | State Harvest |
| Jan 15 | Mattu Pongal TN Unique | தை | State Festival |
| Jan 16 | Kaanum Pongal + Thiruvalluvar Day TN Unique | தை | State Festival |
| Jan 17 | Uzhavar Thirunal TN Unique | தை | Agricultural |
| Feb 1 | Thai Poosam TN Unique | தை | Murugan Festival |
| Feb 15 | Maha Shivaratri | மாசி | Hindu-Shaiva |
| Feb 19 | Ramadan begins | மாசி | Islamic |
| Mar 2 | Masi Magam TN Unique | மாசி | Tamil River Festival |
| Mar 3 | Holi | மாசி | National |
| Mar 14 | Karadaiyan Nombu TN Unique | மாசி | State — Women's Fast |
| Mar 21 | Eid al-Fitr | பங்குனி | Islamic |
| Apr 1 | Panguni Uthiram TN Unique | பங்குனி | Tamil-Hindu |
| Apr 3 | Good Friday | பங்குனி | Christian |
| Apr 5 | Easter Sunday | பங்குனி | Christian |
| Apr 14 | Tamil Puthandu — New Year TN Unique | சித்திரை | State New Year |
| Apr 14 | Dr. Ambedkar Jayanthi | சித்திரை | National |
| Apr 20 | Akshaya Tritiya | சித்திரை | Hindu |
| Apr 28 | Meenakshi Thirukalyanam TN Unique | சித்திரை | Tamil-Madurai |
| May 1 | May Day / Chithira Pournami | சித்திரை | National + Hindu |
| May 28 | Bakrid (Eid al-Adha) | வைகாசி | Islamic |
| May 30 | Vaikasi Visakam TN Unique | வைகாசி | Murugan Birthday |
| Jun 22 | Aani Uthira Darisanam TN Unique | ஆனி | Tamil-Chidambaram |
| Jun 26 | Muharram | ஆனி | Islamic |
| Jul 17 | Aadi Pandigai / Dakshinayana begins TN Unique | ஆடி | Tamil Goddess |
| Aug 3 | Aadi Perukku (Aadi 18) TN Unique | ஆடி | Tamil River Festival |
| Aug 14 | Aadi Pooram / Andal Jayanthi TN Unique | ஆடி | Tamil-Andal |
| Aug 15 | Independence Day | ஆவணி | National |
| Aug 26 | Avani Avittam (Rigveda) TN Unique | ஆவணி | Hindu-Brahmin |
| Aug 27 | Avani Avittam (Yajurveda) TN Unique | ஆவணி | Hindu-Brahmin |
| Aug 26 | Milad-un-Nabi | ஆவணி | Islamic |
| Sep 4 | Gokulashtami / Krishna Jayanthi | ஆவணி | Hindu |
| Sep 12 | Avani Avittam (Samaveda) | புரட்டாசி | Hindu-Brahmin |
| Sep 14 | Vinayagar Chaturthi | புரட்டாசி | Hindu |
| Sep 19 | Purattasi Sani (1st Saturday) TN Unique | புரட்டாசி | Tamil-Vishnu |
| Oct 2 | Gandhi Jayanthi | புரட்டாசி | National |
| Oct 10 | Mahalaya Amavasai | ஐப்பசி | Hindu |
| Oct 19 | Saraswati Puja / Ayutha Pooja TN Unique | ஐப்பசி | Tamil-Exclusive |
| Oct 20 | Vijaya Dasami / Vidyarambham | ஐப்பசி | National |
| Nov 8 | Deepavali (Tamil — Naraka Chaturdasi) Note: 1 day before N.India | கார்த்திகை | State Festival |
| Nov 10 | Skanda Sashti begins | கார்த்திகை | Tamil-Murugan |
| Nov 15 | Soora Samharam TN Unique | கார்த்திகை | Tamil-Murugan |
| Nov 24 | Karthigai Deepam TN Unique | கார்த்திகை | Tamil-Shaiva |
| Dec 20 | Vaikunta Ekadashi ⭐ | மார்கழி | Hindu-Vaishnava |
| Dec 24 | Arudra Darshan / Thiruvathirai TN Unique | மார்கழி | Tamil-Nataraja |
| Dec 25 | Christmas | மார்கழி | Christian |
2026 has 26 Ekadashi dates instead of the usual 24, due to the Adhika Masa (intercalary 13th month). Padmini Ekadashi (May 27) and Parama Ekadashi (Jun 11) are the two additional dates observed during this bonus month.
| Date | Day | Ekadashi Name | Tamil Month | Paksha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 14 | Wednesday | Shattila Ekadashi | தை | Krishna |
| Jan 29 | Thursday | Jaya Ekadashi | தை | Shukla |
| Feb 13 | Friday | Vijaya Ekadashi | மாசி | Krishna |
| Feb 27 | Friday | Amalaki Ekadashi | மாசி | Shukla |
| Mar 15 | Sunday | Papamochani Ekadashi | பங்குனி | Krishna |
| Mar 29 | Sunday | Kamada Ekadashi | பங்குனி | Shukla |
| Apr 13 | Monday | Varuthini Ekadashi | சித்திரை | Krishna |
| Apr 27 | Monday | Mohini Ekadashi | சித்திரை | Shukla |
| May 13 | Wednesday | Apara Ekadashi | வைகாசி | Krishna |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Padmini Ekadashi ✦ Adhika Masa | வைகாசி | Shukla |
| Jun 11 | Thursday | Parama Ekadashi ✦ Adhika Masa | ஆனி | Krishna |
| Jun 25 | Thursday | Nirjala Ekadashi | ஆனி | Shukla |
| Jul 10 | Friday | Yogini Ekadashi | ஆடி | Krishna |
| Jul 25 | Saturday | Devshayani Ekadashi | ஆடி | Shukla |
| Aug 9 | Sunday | Kamika Ekadashi | ஆவணி | Krishna |
| Aug 23 | Sunday | Shravana Putrada Ekadashi | ஆவணி | Shukla |
| Sep 7 | Monday | Aja Ekadashi | புரட்டாசி | Krishna |
| Sep 22 | Tuesday | Parsva Ekadashi | புரட்டாசி | Shukla |
| Oct 6 | Tuesday | Indira Ekadashi | ஐப்பசி | Krishna |
| Oct 22 | Thursday | Papankusha Ekadashi | ஐப்பசி | Shukla |
| Nov 5 | Thursday | Rama Ekadashi | கார்த்திகை | Krishna |
| Nov 20 | Friday | Devutthana Ekadashi | கார்த்திகை | Shukla |
| Dec 6 | Sunday | Utpanna Ekadashi | மார்கழி | Krishna |
| Dec 20 | Sunday | Vaikunta Ekadashi ⭐ Mokshada | மார்கழி | Shukla |
Tamil weddings use nakshatra-based muhurta, not just tithi. A Muhurtham date meets basic Panchangam eligibility; a Subha Muhurtham additionally requires Valarpirai (waxing moon), an auspicious nakshatra from the Subha list, correct yogam, correct karanam, and no inauspicious planetary transits. The Subha list of nakshatras includes: Rohini, Mrigashira, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, Uttarashada, Uttarabhadra, Revati, Magha.
Three months are strictly avoided for Tamil weddings: Aadi (Dakshinayana begins — inauspicious for worldly new starts), Purattasi (sacred Vishnu month — no worldly new commitments), and Margazhi (holiest month — only spiritual, not worldly activities).
Confirmed Subha Muhurtham dates 2026 include: Sep 7, Sep 13, Sep 17; Oct 25, Oct 30; Nov 1, 11, 13, 15, 16, 20, 29; Dec 11, 12, 14. Always verify with a practising Vedic astrologer and local Thiruganitha Panchangam before finalising.
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 3 | Arudra Darshan | Lord Nataraja's cosmic dance — Margazhi month |
| Jan 13 | Bhogi Pandigai | Old items burnt; transition ritual |
| Jan 14 | Thai Pongal ⭐ | Main harvest festival; Makara Sankranti |
| Jan 15 | Mattu Pongal | Cattle honoured with garlands and oil bath |
| Jan 16 | Kaanum Pongal + Thiruvalluvar Day | Family picnics; poet-saint commemorated |
| Jan 17 | Uzhavar Thirunal | Farmers' Day — agricultural thanksgiving |
| Jan 14 | Shattila Ekadashi | Ekadashi fast — sesame (til) offerings |
| Jan 29 | Jaya Ekadashi | Shukla paksha Ekadashi fast |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1 | Thai Poosam ⭐ | Lord Murugan; Kavadi at Palani, Tiruchendur |
| Feb 13 | Ekadashi Fast | Vijaya Ekadashi |
| Feb 15 | Maha Shivaratri | Night vigil for Lord Shiva |
| Feb 19 | Ramadan begins | Month of Islamic fasting |
| Feb 27 | Amalaki Ekadashi | Shukla paksha fast |
| Mar 2–3 | Masi Magam ⭐ | Holy dip in coastal/tank waters; Magha nakshatra |
| Mar 3 | Holi | Not widely observed in Tamil Nadu |
| Mar 14 | Karadaiyan Nombu | Women's fast for husband's longevity; Maasi/Panguni cusp |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 15 | Papamochani Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| Mar 21 | Eid al-Fitr | End of Ramadan |
| Mar 29 | Kamada Ekadashi | Shukla paksha fast |
| Apr 1 | Panguni Uthiram ⭐ | Three divine weddings; celestial unions of Shiva, Murugan, Rama |
| Apr 3 | Good Friday | Christian holy day |
| Apr 5 | Easter Sunday | Christian celebration |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 13 | Varuthini Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| Apr 14 | Tamil Puthandu ⭐ (Chithirai 1) | Tamil New Year; Thiruvalluvar Year 2057 begins; Parabhava Varudam |
| Apr 14 | Dr. Ambedkar Jayanthi | National holiday |
| Apr 19 | Chithirai Thiruvizha begins (Madurai) | 2-week car festival at Meenakshi Amman Temple |
| Apr 20 | Akshaya Tritiya | Auspicious for gold purchases and new ventures |
| Apr 27 | Mohini Ekadashi | Shukla paksha fast |
| Apr 28 | Meenakshi Thirukalyanam ⭐ | Divine wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar at Madurai |
| Apr 30 | Kallazagar Ezhundarulal | Vishnu's procession into River Vaigai — culmination of Chithirai festival |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 | May Day + Chithira Pournami | Labour Day; Full Moon of Chithirai month |
| May 13 | Apara Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| May 27 | Padmini Ekadashi ✦ Adhika Masa | Extra Ekadashi due to intercalary month |
| May 28 | Bakrid (Eid al-Adha) | Islamic festival |
| May 30 | Vaikasi Visakam ⭐ | Lord Murugan's birthday; observed at all 6 Arupadai Veedu temples |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 11 | Parama Ekadashi ✦ Adhika Masa | Second additional Ekadashi of 2026 |
| Jun 22 | Aani Uthira Darisanam ⭐ | Chidambaram Nataraja; Uttara Phalguni nakshatra in Aani |
| Jun 25 | Nirjala Ekadashi | The strictest Ekadashi fast — no water |
| Jun 26 | Muharram | Islamic New Year observance |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 10 | Yogini Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| Jul 17 | Aadi Pandigai / Dakshinayana Punyakalam ⭐ | Sun's southward journey begins; Goddess puja |
| Jul 25 | Devshayani Ekadashi | Vishnu enters Yoga Nidra — 4-month Chaturmas begins |
| Aug 3 | Aadi Perukku (Aadi 18) ⭐ | River worship; river banks decorated with lamps |
| Aug 14 | Aadi Pooram / Andal Jayanthi ⭐ | Birthday of Goddess Andal (Srivilliputhur); Full Moon in Magha |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 9 | Kamika Ekadashi | Aadi month Krishna paksha fast |
| Aug 15 | Independence Day | National holiday |
| Aug 23 | Shravana Putrada Ekadashi | Shukla paksha fast |
| Aug 26 | Avani Avittam (Rigveda) ⭐ | Sacred thread renewal for Rigveda Brahmins |
| Aug 26 | Milad-un-Nabi | Prophet's birthday |
| Aug 27 | Avani Avittam (Yajurveda) ⭐ | Sacred thread renewal for Yajurveda Brahmins |
| Sep 4 | Gokulashtami / Krishna Jayanthi | Lord Krishna's birthday |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 7 | Aja Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| Sep 12 | Avani Avittam (Samaveda) | Thread renewal for Samaveda Brahmins |
| Sep 14 | Vinayagar Chaturthi | Lord Ganesha's birthday — 10-day celebration in Tamil Nadu |
| Sep 19 | Purattasi Sani (1st Saturday) ⭐ | Vishnu/Venkateshwara temple visits; partial fast |
| Sep 22 | Parsva Ekadashi | Shukla paksha fast |
| Sep 26 | Purattasi Sani (2nd Saturday) ⭐ | Vishnu temples — special alankaram (decoration) |
| Oct 3 | Purattasi Sani (3rd Saturday) ⭐ | |
| Oct 10 | Purattasi Sani (4th Saturday) ⭐ | |
| Oct 17 | Purattasi Sani (5th/last Saturday) ⭐ | Final Purattasi Sani of 2026 |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 | Gandhi Jayanthi | National holiday |
| Oct 6 | Indira Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| Oct 10 | Mahalaya Amavasai | Ancestral offerings — pitru tarpanam |
| Oct 11 | Navaratri begins | 9-night Goddess festival; Golu dolls displayed in Tamil Nadu |
| Oct 19 | Saraswati Puja / Ayutha Pooja ⭐ | Tools, vehicles, books blessed; Tamil-exclusive tradition |
| Oct 20 | Vijaya Dasami / Vidyarambham | Children initiated into learning; Kolu packed up |
| Oct 22 | Papankusha Ekadashi | Shukla paksha fast |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 | Rama Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| Nov 8 | Deepavali (Tamil — Naraka Chaturdasi) ⭐ | Before sunrise; oil bath tradition; 1 day before North India's Diwali |
| Nov 10 | Skanda Sashti begins | 6-day fast at Tiruchendur, Palani, Swamimalai |
| Nov 15 | Soora Samharam ⭐ | Murugan defeats Soorapadman; dramatic enactment at Tiruchendur sea shore |
| Nov 20 | Devutthana Ekadashi | Vishnu awakens from Yoga Nidra; auspicious season for weddings begins |
| Nov 24 | Karthigai Deepam ⭐ | Maha Deepam at Tiruvannamalai; flame visible 30 km; 1 tonne camphor |
| Date | Event / Festival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 6 | Utpanna Ekadashi | Krishna paksha fast |
| Dec 16 | Margazhi begins — Thiruppavai recitation starts ⭐ | 30-day Andal devotional reading; pre-dawn temple visits daily |
| Dec 20 | Vaikunta Ekadashi ⭐ (Mokshada Ekadashi) | Most sacred Ekadashi; Swarga Vaasal (Gate of Heaven) opened at Vishnu temples |
| Dec 24 | Arudra Darshan / Thiruvathirai ⭐ | Lord Nataraja's Ananda Tandava (cosmic dance) — second occurrence in 2026 |
| Dec 25 | Christmas | National holiday |
The Tamil Calendar 2026 year name is Parabhava Varudam (பராபவ ஆண்டு) — the 40th year in the 60-year Vikram Samvatsara cycle. In the Thiruvalluvar Year system used by the Tamil Nadu Government, 2026 = Thiruvalluvar Year 2057. The previous Parabhava year was 1966; the next will be 2086.
Tamil New Year 2026 (Tamil Puthandu / Chithirai 1) falls on April 14, 2026. It marks the sun's entry into the first zodiac sign, Aries (Mesha Sankranti). This is the same astronomical event that triggers Vishu in Kerala, Baisakhi in Punjab, Bengali Nabo Barsho, and Bohag Bihu in Assam — all solar calendar new years anchored to the same moment.
Pongal 2026 is a four-day festival: Bhogi (Jan 13), Thai Pongal / Main day (Jan 14), Mattu Pongal (Jan 15), Kaanum Pongal + Thiruvalluvar Day (Jan 16), and Uzhavar Thirunal (Jan 17). Pongal's date is astronomically fixed — always triggered when the sun enters Capricorn (Makara Sankranti) — which is why it never drifts the way lunar festivals do.
Vakya Panchangam uses ancient Vedic formulae (slokas) that have not been corrected for astronomical precession in over 1,000 years. Most Tamil Nadu temples, including Madurai Meenakshi Temple, follow Vakya. Thiruganitha Panchangam uses modern telescopic astronomical calculations (Drik Ganita) and is used by the Tamil Nadu Government, Tirupati Tirumala, and most printed calendars. The maximum discrepancy between the two systems is up to 17 nazhigai (6 hours 48 minutes) on certain dates — which is why two temples 50 km apart may celebrate the same festival on different days.
Nalla Neram (நல்ல நேரம்) is the auspicious time window in the daily Tamil Panchangam, calculated from the day's nakshatra and tithi. It typically occurs twice daily — morning and afternoon. Gowri Nalla Neram is an additional auspicious time specifically for women's religious observances. Both are listed in the daily Panchangam alongside the inauspicious Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam, and Kuligai timings.
Karthigai Deepam 2026 falls on November 24. The Maha Deepam at Tiruvannamalai is a large flame lit atop Arunachala Hill, symbolising Lord Shiva's manifestation as the infinite column of light (Jyotirlinga). It burns for several hours and is visible from approximately 30 km away at night. Millions of pilgrims visit Tiruvannamalai for this festival, one of the oldest continuously observed festivals in Tamil literature.
Tamil Deepavali is celebrated on Naraka Chaturdasi morning (before sunrise), commemorating the moment Krishna and Satyabhama killed the demon Narakasura at dawn. North India celebrates on Amavasya night, marking Rama's return to Ayodhya. Same festival name, different day, different mythology. In 2026, Tamil Deepavali = November 8. The Tamil celebration always falls one day before North India's Diwali. The pre-sunrise oil bath (Deepavali Nalungu) is a uniquely Tamil tradition associated with this festival.
The Thiruvalluvar Year (Valluvar Year) is the official Tamil Nadu Government calendar system, counting from the birth year of poet-saint Thiruvalluvar (~31 BCE). The formula is: Thiruvalluvar Year = Gregorian Year + 31. Therefore, Gregorian 2026 = Thiruvalluvar Year 2057. This year designation appears in all official Tamil Nadu government communications, school calendars, and court documents alongside the Gregorian date.