Thiruvalluvar Aandu 2057 - 12 Tamil months, Puthandu date and all Tamil festivals for 2026.
| # | Month | Tamil | Zodiac | Gregorian | Season | Key Festival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chithirai | சித்திரை | Mesha (Aries) | Mid Apr – Mid May | Ilavenil | Puthandu (Tamil New Year) - Apr 14 |
| 2 | Vaikasi | வைகாசி | Vrishabha (Taurus) | Mid May – Mid Jun | Ilavenil | Vaikasi Visakam - Murugan festival |
| 3 | Aani | ஆனி | Mithuna (Gemini) | Mid Jun – Mid Jul | Muthuvenil | Aani Thirumanjanam - Murugan abhishekam |
| 4 | Aadi | ஆடி | Karkataka (Cancer) | Mid Jul – Mid Aug | Muthuvenil | Aadi Perukku (18th Aadi) / Aadi Pooram |
| 5 | Avani | ஆவணி | Simha (Leo) | Mid Aug – Mid Sep | Kaar | Krishna Jayanti (Gokulashtami) / Avani Avittam |
| 6 | Purattasi | புரட்டாசி | Kanya (Virgo) | Mid Sep – Mid Oct | Kaar | Navarathri / Saraswati Puja / Purattasi Sanikizhamai |
| 7 | Aippasi | ஐப்பசி | Tula (Libra) | Mid Oct – Mid Nov | Koothir | Diwali / Skanda Shashti / Aippasi Purnima |
| 8 | Karthigai | கார்த்திகை | Vrischika (Scorpio) | Mid Nov – Mid Dec | Koothir | Karthigai Deepam / Subramania Sashti |
| 9 | Margazhi | மார்கழி | Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Mid Dec – Mid Jan | Munpani | Thiruvadhirai / Hanuman Jayanti / Margazhi Utsavams |
| 10 | Thai | தை | Makara (Capricorn) | Mid Jan – Mid Feb | Munpani | Thai Pongal / Makar Sankranti / Thai Poosam |
| 11 | Maasi | மாசி | Kumbha (Aquarius) | Mid Feb – Mid Mar | Pinpani | Maasi Magam / Maha Shivratri |
| 12 | Panguni | பங்குனி | Meena (Pisces) | Mid Mar – Mid Apr | Pinpani | Panguni Uttiram / Ugadi / Holi |
The Tamil calendar, known as the Tamil Panchangam or Tamizh Calender, is a lunisolar calendar used by Tamil-speaking people in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Tamil diaspora communities worldwide. It follows the sidereal solar year divided into 12 Tamil months, beginning with Chittirai (April-May) and ending with Panguni (March-April). The Tamil calendar has roots in ancient Sangam literature dating back to at least the 2nd century BCE and is one of the oldest continuously used calendar systems in the world.
Each Tamil month corresponds to the sun's transit through one of the 12 zodiac signs (Rasi). The months are: Chittirai, Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi, Aavani, Purattasi, Aippasi, Karthigai, Margazhi, Thai, Maasi, and Panguni. Thai Pongal (harvest festival) falls in the Tamil month of Thai (January) and is the most celebrated festival, observed as a public holiday in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil New Year (Puthandu) falls on the first day of Chittirai, typically April 14, and is an official public holiday in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
Key Tamil festivals tied to the calendar include Thai Pongal (January), Tamil Puthandu (April 14), Aadi Perukku (August - river worship in the month of Aadi), Karthigai Deepam (November - celebrated at Thiruvannamalai with a sacred flame), and Margazhi month music and Bharatanatyam performances (December-January). The Tamil Nadu government publishes the official Tamil calendar each year through the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department, which is the reference for school holidays, TNPSC exam schedules, and government office closures.