Complete calendar of Tamil Nadu festivals, vrats, and auspicious dates by Tamil month
January 14, 2026 — Harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God. The most celebrated Tamil festival.
April 14, 2026 — Puthandu marks the beginning of the Tamil calendar year (Chithirai 1).
November 8, 2026 — Festival of Lights celebrated with fireworks, sweets, and oil baths.
November 24, 2026 — Festival of lamps. Maha Deepam lit atop Tiruvannamalai hill.
The Tamil festival calendar is rooted in the ancient Tamil Panchangam (almanac), which follows a solar-based calendar system. Unlike the lunisolar Hindu calendar used in North India, the Tamil calendar is primarily solar, with each month beginning when the Sun enters a new zodiac sign (Rasi). The twelve Tamil months — Thai, Masi, Panguni, Chithirai, Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi, Avani, Purattasi, Aippasi, Karthigai, and Margazhi — form the foundation of Tamil festival scheduling.
Pongal is the most important Tamil festival, celebrated over four days during the Tamil month of Thai (mid-January). Bhogi Pandigai starts the celebrations with the burning of old items to welcome the new. Thai Pongal, the main day, is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya) — families cook the traditional Pongal dish in new pots, letting it overflow as a symbol of abundance. Mattu Pongal honours cattle and farm animals, while Kaanum Pongal is a day for family reunions and outings. Thiruvalluvar Day, observed alongside Kaanum Pongal, honours the great Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar.
Thaipusam: Celebrated during Thai month, this festival honours Lord Murugan (Subramaniam). Devotees perform kavadi attam and other acts of devotion at Murugan temples across Tamil Nadu, especially at Palani and Tiruchendur.
Chithirai Thiruvizha: The grand festival at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, celebrated during the Tamil month of Chithirai. The highlight is Meenakshi Thirukalyanam — the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, attracting millions of devotees.
Aadi Perukku: Observed on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, this festival celebrates the rising water levels of rivers and the onset of the monsoon. Women offer prayers near rivers and water bodies, seeking fertility and prosperity.
Karthigai Deepam: The Tamil festival of lights celebrated during the month of Karthigai. Homes are lit with rows of oil lamps (agal vilakku). The Maha Deepam atop Tiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple hill is visible for miles and is a sacred sight for devotees.
Each Tamil month carries cultural and agricultural significance. Thai (Jan-Feb) marks the harvest and Pongal. Masi (Feb-Mar) brings the sacred Masi Magam bathing festival. Panguni (Mar-Apr) is auspicious for celestial weddings (Panguni Uthiram). Chithirai (Apr-May) is the Tamil New Year month. Aadi (Jul-Aug) is considered powerful for Amman (Goddess) worship. Purattasi (Sep-Oct) is the month of Perumal (Vishnu) worship and Saturday fasting. Margazhi (Dec-Jan) is the most spiritually auspicious month for devotional music (Thiruppavai, Thiruvempavai).
Tamil New Year (Puthandu) is celebrated on April 14 every year, marking the first day of Chithirai, the first month in the Tamil calendar. It is a fixed solar date and does not change like lunar-based festivals. Families prepare the traditional Maanga Pachadi, a dish made with six flavours symbolizing the different experiences of life.
Tamil festivals follow the Tamil solar calendar (Surya Siddhanta), while most North Indian festivals follow a lunisolar calendar. This means some festivals fall on different dates. For example, Tamil Pongal coincides with Makar Sankranti but the celebrations are entirely different. Tamil festivals also have unique observances like Aadi Perukku, Chithirai Thiruvizha, and Karthigai Deepam that are specific to Tamil culture.
Margazhi (mid-December to mid-January) is considered the most spiritually auspicious month in the Tamil calendar. It is believed that the divine energy is closest to earth during this period. Early morning devotional singing of Thiruppavai (by Andal) and Thiruvempavai (by Manikkavasagar) is practised in temples and homes. The famous Chennai Margazhi Music and Dance Season also takes place during this month.
Lord Murugan (Kartikeya/Subramaniam) is the patron deity of Tamil Nadu. The major Murugan festivals include Thaipusam (Thai month — January/February), Vaikasi Visakam (Vaikasi month — May/June, his birthday), Skanda Sashti (Aippasi month — October/November, celebrating his victory over Surapadman at Tiruchendur), and Panguni Uthiram (Panguni month — March/April, celebrating his divine marriage).