✦ Tamil Calendar ✦
தமிழ் காலண்டர்
✦ Tamil sidereal solar calendar — Chithirai to Panguni ✦
✦ About Tamil Calendar ✦
The Tamil calendar is a sidereal solar calendar — its 12 months are based on the Sun's sidereal entry into each rashi. It uses the Kali Yuga era and the 60-year Tamil "year-name" cycle.
Tamil New Year — "Puthandu" — is celebrated on April 14, the start of Chithirai. Each month is ~30–31 days, the duration of the Sun's residence in one rashi. Used by Tamil communities in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Mauritius.
The "Vakkiyam" tradition runs alongside the Tamil calendar — a regional panchang specific to Tamil Nadu. Three main Tamil panchang lineages: Madras Nirayana, Theyyam, and Kanchi-Vakkiyam.
Type
Sidereal solar — based on Sun's sidereal sign motion
Era / Samvat
Kali Yuga era + 60-year Tamil year-name cycle
New Year
Chithirai 1 — Puthandu — April 14
✦ The 12 Months ✦
📅 Apr 14 – May 14
Puthandu (New Year)
📅 May 15 – Jun 14
Vaikasi Visakam
📅 Jun 15 – Jul 15
📅 Jul 16 – Aug 16
Aadi Perukku
📅 Aug 17 – Sep 16
Vinayaka Chaturthi
📅 Sep 17 – Oct 17
Navratri
📅 Oct 18 – Nov 16
Diwali, Skanda Sashti
📅 Nov 17 – Dec 15
Karthigai Deepam
📅 Dec 16 – Jan 13
Most sacred month
📅 Jan 14 – Feb 12
Pongal
📅 Feb 13 – Mar 13
📅 Mar 14 – Apr 13
Panguni Uthiram
✦ Major Festivals ✦
Pongal
📅 Thai
Puthandu
📅 Chithirai
Karthigai Deepam
📅 Karthigai
Kanda Sashti
📅 Aippasi
Panguni Uthiram
📅 Panguni
Thai Pusam
📅 Thai