Tamil Solar Calendar (தமிழ் காலண்டர்)

Tamil Date Today

Q: When is the Tamil New Year?

Puthandu (புத்தாண்டு) — the Tamil New Year — falls on 1 Chittirai, approximately 14 April Gregorian. The day begins with viewing the kanni (an arrangement of auspicious objects — fruits, betel leaves, gold, flowers, mirror — viewed first thing in the morning), wearing new clothes, visiting temples, and preparing a special meal that includes maanga pachadi — a sweet-sour-bitter-spicy dish symbolizing the year's mixture of experiences. Sri Lankan Tamils and the diaspora celebrate the same day, often with public gatherings and cultural events.

As of Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 11:30 PM, today's Tamil Solar Calendar (தமிழ் காலண்டர்) date is:

5 Vaikasi, Pilava year

வைகாசி 5, பிலவ வருடம்

Thingatkizhamai (Monday) Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Today's Tamil Solar Calendar (தமிழ் காலண்டர்) date — full detail

Date: 5 Vaikasi, Pilava year
Tamil: வைகாசி 5, பிலவ வருடம்
Short form: Vaikasi 5
Year: 2026 60-year cyclical names (no continuous era count for civil use)
Weekday: Thingatkizhamai (Monday)
Gregorian: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Current Tamil year name: Pilava (பிலவ)
Year position in cycle: 35th of 60
Current Tamil month: Vaikasi (வைகாசி)
Twelve months: Chittirai, Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi, Aavani, Purattasi, Aippasi, Karthigai, Margazhi, Thai, Maasi, Panguni
New Year (Puthandu): 1 Chittirai ≈ 14 April Gregorian
This month's major festival: Vaikasi Visakam — birth of Lord Murugan

Why today matters

Today is in Vaikasi (வைகாசி) — the second month of the Tamil year, sacred to Lord Murugan (the warrior-god of victory, also called Kartikeya or Subramanya). The month contains the major festival of Vaikasi Visakam — the celebration of Murugan's birth, observed on the day the moon is in the Visakha nakshatra during Vaikasi. Devotees fast, visit the six abodes of Murugan (the Arupadai Veedu) at Palani, Tiruchendur, Swamimalai, Thiruparankundram, Thiruthani, and Pazhamudircholai, and offer prayers for victory over obstacles and the cultivation of right valor.

வைகாசியில், வாழ்க்கை சிறகு விரிக்கும். — Vaikasi-il, vaazhgai sirakku virikkum. "In Vaikasi, life spreads its wings." — Tamil saying

How we compute this

Tamil Solar Calendar (தமிழ் காலண்டர்) is a solar (sidereal) calendar. Each year contains 365–366 days (sidereal solar year — slightly longer than the tropical year used by Gregorian), with each month averaging 29–32 days, aligned with the sun's transit through the twelve sidereal zodiac signs (rāśi). Years are counted from Named years cycle through a 60-year sequence; year 1 of each cycle is Prabhava (era: 60-year cyclical names (no continuous era count for civil use)).

The Tamil calendar is a sidereal solar system inherited from classical Indian astronomy, distinct from most other Hindu calendars in that it is purely solar (not lunisolar): each month begins at the precise astronomical moment the sun enters a new sidereal zodiac sign (rāśi). The twelve Tamil month names (Chittirai, Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi, Aavani, Purattasi, Aippasi, Karthigai, Margazhi, Thai, Maasi, Panguni) correspond to these sidereal transits. Each year is named with one of 60 cyclical Sanskrit-derived names (Prabhava, Vibhava, Shukla... Akshaya), cycling through approximately a 60-year period. The 2026–2027 Tamil year is Pilava, the 35th name in the cycle. The Tamil New Year — Puthandu (புத்தாண்டு) — falls on 1 Chittirai, approximately 14 April Gregorian, with massive public celebration across Tamil Nadu and the Sri Lankan Tamil community.

Used by: ~75–80 million Tamil speakers worldwide. Regions: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (India), Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, the Tamil diaspora in Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, Réunion, Fiji, the Caribbean, and elsewhere.

Frequently asked

What is the Tamil date today?

The Tamil date today is the 5th of Vaikasi in the year Pilava. The full Tamil date is வைகாசி 5, பிலவ வருடம்.

How is the Tamil calendar different from other Hindu calendars?

Most Hindu calendars are lunisolar — months follow the moon (starting on a new moon or full moon), with leap months inserted periodically. The Tamil calendar is purely solar — each month begins at the precise astronomical moment the sun enters a new sidereal zodiac sign, and the year is 365–366 days like the Gregorian year. The Tamil calendar is also sidereal rather than tropical: it measures the sun's position relative to fixed stars, not relative to the spring equinox. Over centuries, this produces a slow drift of Tamil dates relative to the seasons.

What are the 60 Tamil year names?

Each Tamil year is named with one of 60 Sanskrit-derived cyclical names: Prabhava, Vibhava, Shukla, Pramoda, Prajapati, Angirasa, Shrimukha, Bhava, Yuva, Dhata, Ishvara, Bahudhanya, Pramathin, Vikrama, Vrisha, Chitrabhanu, Subhanu, Tarana, Parthiva, Vyaya, Sarvajita, Sarvadharin, Virodhi, Vikriti, Khara, Nandana, Vijaya, Jaya, Manmatha, Durmukhi, Hevilambi, Vilambi, Vikari, Sarvari, Plava (Pilava), Shubhakrita, Shobhakrita, Krodhi, Vishvavasu, Parabhava, Plavanga, Kilaka, Saumya, Sadharana, Virodhakrita, Paridhavi, Pramadicha, Ananda, Rakshasa, Nala, Pingala, Kalayukti, Siddharthi, Raudra, Durmati, Dundubhi, Rudhirodgarin, Raktakshi, Krodhana, and Akshaya. After Akshaya, the cycle returns to Prabhava. We are currently in Pilava — the 35th name.

When is Vaikasi Visakam?

Vaikasi Visakam — celebrating the birth of Lord Murugan — falls on the day the moon is in the Visakha nakshatra during the Tamil month of Vaikasi. In Gregorian terms this is typically in late May or early June. In 2026, Vaikasi Visakam falls on 30 May. Devotees observe a day-long fast, visit Murugan temples (especially the six abodes), and offer abhishekam (ritual bathing) with milk, honey, sandalwood, and rose water.

When is the Tamil New Year?

Puthandu (புத்தாண்டு) — the Tamil New Year — falls on 1 Chittirai, approximately 14 April Gregorian. The day begins with viewing the kanni (an arrangement of auspicious objects — fruits, betel leaves, gold, flowers, mirror — viewed first thing in the morning), wearing new clothes, visiting temples, and preparing a special meal that includes maanga pachadi — a sweet-sour-bitter-spicy dish symbolizing the year's mixture of experiences. Sri Lankan Tamils and the diaspora celebrate the same day, often with public gatherings and cultural events.