Tamil Calendar 2026
12 Tamil months overlap 2026, computed for Chennai, India. The Tamil month is solar: a new month begins when the Sun enters the next zodiac sign (sankranti). Month names map one-to-one to the signs, from Chithirai (Mesha) to Panguni (Meena).
Dates are computed for Chennai, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
| Tamil month | Begins | Festivals and vrats |
|---|---|---|
| Thai | Makara | · Pradosh Vrat · Amavasya · Vasanta Panchami / Saraswati Puja · Jaya · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi |
| Masi | Kumbha | · Vijaya · Pradosh Vrat · Maha Shivaratri · Amavasya · Amalaki · Pradosh Vrat · Holika Dahan · Holi (Dhulandi / Dolyatra) · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi |
| Panguni | Mina | · Papamochani · Pradosh Vrat · Chaitra Navratri begins · Gudi Padwa / Ugadi (Hindu New Year) · Amavasya · Rama Navami · Kamada · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Varuthini |
| Chithirai | Mesha | · Pradosh Vrat · Amavasya · Akshaya Tritiya · Mohini · Pradosh Vrat · Buddha Purnima · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Apara · Pradosh Vrat |
| Vaikasi | Vrishabha | · Amavasya · Padmini · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Parama · Pradosh Vrat (kshaya) · Amavasya |
| Aani | Mithuna | · Nirjala · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Yogini (kshaya) · Pradosh Vrat · Amavasya · Rathayatra |
| Aadi | Karkata | · Devshayani · Pradosh Vrat · Guru Purnima · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Kamika · Pradosh Vrat · Amavasya |
| Aavani | Simha | · Putrada · Pradosh Vrat · Raksha Bandhan · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Janmashtami (Smarta) · Gokulashtami (Nandotsava) · Aja · Pradosh Vrat · Amavasya |
| Purattasi | Kanya | · Parsva · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Indira · Pradosh Vrat · Mahalaya Amavasya (Sarvapitri Amavasya) · Amavasya · Sharad Navratri begins (Durga Puja) · Durga Puja (Mahasaptami) |
| Aippasi | Tula | · Durga Puja (Mahashtami) · Durga Puja (Mahanavami) / Ayudha Puja · Vijaya Dasami / Dussehra · Papankusha · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Karwa Chauth · Sankashti Chaturthi · Rama · Dhanteras · Pradosh Vrat · Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) · Diwali (Deepavali) / Lakshmi Puja · Amavasya · Bhai Dooj · Govardhan Puja · Bhai Dooj · Chhath Puja |
| Karthigai | Vrischika | · Prabodhini · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Utpanna · Pradosh Vrat · Amavasya |
| Margazhi | Dhanus | · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi · Makara Sankranti / Pongal · Shattila · Mokshada · Pradosh Vrat · Purnima · Sankashti Chaturthi |
Other years
Related
Methodology and reference
All timings on this page are computed astronomically for the respective local coordinates — solar and lunar sidereal positions, the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa and sunrise-anchored window divisions — and regression-checked against the Government of India publication Rashtriya Panchang (Positional Astronomy Centre, India Meteorological Department, Kolkata). Data verified against the Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) publications on every site update; the computation method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- What month system does the Tamil calendar use?
- The Tamil month is solar: a new month begins when the Sun enters the next zodiac sign (sankranti). Month names map one-to-one to the signs, from Chithirai (Mesha) to Panguni (Meena).
- Why do month start dates shift each year?
- Lunar months track the Moon (about 29.5 days) and solar months track the Sun’s entry into each sign; neither matches the Gregorian calendar exactly, so start dates move by a day or two from year to year.