Malayalam calendar · solar
Malayalam calendar: this month, festivals and months
The Malayalam calendar (Kollavarsham) is a solar calendar. Its year begins with Chingam, in mid-August, and is counted in the Kollam era. The month of Medam begins in mid-April with Vishu.
Today: 10 Thulam, Pratipada · Kollam era 1202
Malayalam calendar, October 2026
- Months: Kanni (കന്നി) · Thulam (തുലാം)
- Kollam era: 1202
S = Shukla paksha, K = Krishna paksha. The tithi is the one at sunrise, with the time it ends when it changes before the next sunrise. ☆ nakshatra, ☾ Moon sign, ☼ sunrise and sunset, for Thiruvananthapuram, in IST.
Days to note in October 2026
| Date | Month | What |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct, Tue | Kanni 20 | Krishna Ekadashi |
| 10 Oct, Sat | Kanni 24 | Amavasya |
| 11 Oct, Sun | Kanni 25 | Sharad Navratri begins |
| 17 Oct, Sat | Kanni 31 | Tula Sankranti, 7:56 pm |
| 19 Oct, Mon | Thulam 2 | Durga Ashtami |
| 20 Oct, Tue | Thulam 3 | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) |
| 22 Oct, Thu | Thulam 5 | Shukla Ekadashi |
| 26 Oct, Mon | Thulam 9 | Purnima |
Malayalam festivals 2026
The main festivals of 2026, worked out for Thiruvananthapuram. Open a festival to see its month.
| Date | Festivals |
|---|---|
| 14 January, Wed | Makar Sankranti |
| 1 February, Sun | Thaipusam |
| 15 February, Sun | Maha Shivaratri |
| 26 March, Thu | Ram Navami |
| 14 April, Tue | Vishu |
| 19 April, Sun | Akshaya Tritiya |
| 29 July, Wed | Guru Purnima |
| 26 August, Wed | Onam (Thiruvonam) |
| 4 September, Fri | Krishna Janmashtami |
| 14 September, Mon | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 11 October, Sun | Sharad Navratri begins |
| 19 October, Mon | Durga Ashtami |
| 20 October, Tue | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) |
| 8 November, Sun | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) |
| 24 November, Tue | Kartik Purnima |
Tithi times, muhurat and days for each major festival: Hindu festivals 2026 and 2027.
Malayalam calendar 2026, month by month
How the Malayalam calendar works
A month begins on the day of the Sankranti when the Sun changes sign before about three fifths of the daytime has passed, and on the next day otherwise. Onam falls on the Thiruvonam nakshatra in Chingam.
The Kollam year changes on 1 Chingam, when the Sun enters Simha (Leo) in mid-August. Vishu, on 1 Medam in April, is celebrated as the astronomical new year.
| # | Month | Malayalam | Sun in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medam | മേടം | Mesha |
| 2 | Edavam | ഇടവം | Vrishabha |
| 3 | Mithunam | മിഥുനം | Mithuna |
| 4 | Karkidakam | കർക്കടകം | Karka |
| 5 | Chingam | ചിങ്ങം | Simha |
| 6 | Kanni | കന്നി | Kanya |
| 7 | Thulam | തുലാം | Tula |
| 8 | Vrischikam | വൃശ്ചികം | Vrishchika |
| 9 | Dhanu | ധനു | Dhanu |
| 10 | Makaram | മകരം | Makara |
| 11 | Kumbham | കുംഭം | Kumbha |
| 12 | Meenam | മീനം | Meena |
Other regional calendars
- Hindu calendar
- Tamil calendar
- Telugu calendar
- Kannada calendar
- Marathi calendar
- Gujarati calendar
- Bengali calendar
- Odia calendar
For the full day (yoga, karana, Rahu kaal) see today's panchang, and the full lists of Amavasya, Purnima and eclipse dates.
Questions about the Malayalam calendar
When is the Malayalam New Year in 2026?
On 14 April 2026 (Vishu). The Kollam year changes on 1 Chingam, when the Sun enters Simha (Leo) in mid-August. Vishu, on 1 Medam in April, is celebrated as the astronomical new year.
What are the months of the Malayalam calendar?
Medam (മേടം), Edavam (ഇടവം), Mithunam (മിഥുനം), Karkidakam (കർക്കടകം), Chingam (ചിങ്ങം), Kanni (കന്നി), Thulam (തുലാം), Vrischikam (വൃശ്ചികം), Dhanu (ധനു), Makaram (മകരം), Kumbham (കുംഭം), Meenam (മീനം).
Is the Malayalam calendar solar or lunar?
Solar: each month begins when the Sun moves into the next sign. A month begins on the day of the Sankranti when the Sun changes sign before about three fifths of the daytime has passed, and on the next day otherwise. Onam falls on the Thiruvonam nakshatra in Chingam.
Which city are the times for?
Sunrise, sunset and the tithi of each day are worked out for Thiruvananthapuram, in IST. In other cities sunrise moves by some minutes, and now and then the tithi at sunrise can differ too.
Why can a festival date differ from my local panchang?
Each festival is kept on the day its tithi runs at a set time of day (sunrise, midday, pradosh or midnight). Traditions apply these rules a little differently, so confirm with your family tradition or priest.