Malayalam Year 2026 – 2027
Apr 14, 2026 – Apr 13, 2027
Kerala's festival calendar — anchored on Vishu (Apr 14, sun's entry into Aries) for civil purposes, with the traditional Kollavarsham year starting on Chingam 1 (Aug 15).34 festivals across 12 Malayalam solar months (Medam → Meenam). Onam, Mandala-Makaravilakku at Sabarimala, and the Thrissur Pooram are the year's peaks.
34
Festivals
12
Malayalam Months
2026
Greg start
Kollam 1201
Kollavarsham
Medam
മേടംApr 14 – May 14· AriesThe Malayalam year as Vishu-anchored opens here. Vishukkani arranged at dawn, kaineetam exchanged.
Bohag Bihu
বহাগ বিহু
Assamese New Year — 7 days of Bihu dance, husori, and the start of spring.
Vishu
വിഷു
Kerala New Year — Vishukkani at first sight, kaineetam coins for blessings.
Akshaya Tritiya
अक्षय तृतीया
The "never-decaying" day — universally auspicious.
Buddha Purnima
Birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of the Buddha — all on the same Vaishakha Purnima.
Edavam
ഇടവംMay 15 – Jun 14· TaurusPre-monsoon. Vaishakha begins; Akshaya Tritiya falls in this window.
Mithunam
മിഥുനംJun 15 – Jul 14· GeminiMonsoon begins in Kerala. Sea-bathing fasts and Karkidaka Vavu (ancestor offerings) at month-end.
Karkidakam
കർക്കടകംJul 15 – Aug 14· CancerThe "Ramayana month" — every Kerala household reads the Adhyatma Ramayana daily. Karkidaka Kanji (medicinal porridge) is taken for digestion.
Chingam
ചിങ്ങംAug 15 – Sep 14· LeoThe Kollavarsham year traditionally begins on Chingam 1. Onam — Kerala's biggest 10-day festival — peaks at Thiruvonam.
Onam
ഓണം
Kerala's 10-day harvest festival — homecoming of King Mahabali.
Raksha Bandhan
रक्षा बंधन
The brother-sister bond, sealed with a rakhi thread.
Krishna Janmashtami
कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
The birth of Krishna, at midnight in Shravana Krishna Ashtami.
Kanni
കന്നിSep 15 – Oct 14· VirgoNavaratri / Saraswati Puja, peaking at Vijayadashami. Books and instruments placed before the goddess.
Ganesh Chaturthi
गणेश चतुर्थी
Ten days of Ganesha — homecoming, then farewell on Anant Chaturdashi.
Pitru Paksha
पितृ पक्ष
A 16-day window for ancestor offerings — major life events suspended.
Sharad Navratri
शरद नवरात्रि
Nine nights of the Mother Goddess.
Thulam
തുലാംOct 15 – Nov 14· LibraDiwali (Deepavali in Kerala) and Kerala Piravi (state foundation day, Nov 1) fall here.
Kati Bihu
কাতি বিহু
The austere Bihu — small lamps in paddy fields, prayers for the harvest.
Dussehra
दशहरा / विजयादशमी
Rama's victory over Ravana — the triumph of dharma.
Sharad Purnima
शरद पूर्णिमा
The brightest full moon of the year — moonlight is said to have nectar properties.
Kerala Piravi
കേരളപ്പിറവി
Kerala's birthday — the day the state was formed in 1956.
Dhanteras
धनतेरस
The Diwali week begins — gold and metal purchases peak today.
Naraka Chaturdashi
The night before Diwali — Krishna's defeat of Narakasura.
Diwali
दीपावली
The festival of lights — Lakshmi Puja in every home.
Govardhan Puja
Krishna lifts Mount Govardhan — Annakut feast.
Bhai Dooj
The brother-sister bond, second occasion in the year (after Raksha Bandhan).
Vrishchikam
വൃശ്ചികംNov 15 – Dec 14· ScorpioThe Mandala Pooja season at Sabarimala begins — 41-day vratham for Ayyappa devotees.
Kartik Purnima
The "Diwali of the gods" — celebrated with diyas in Varanasi.
Vivah Panchami
विवाह पंचमी
The marriage anniversary of Rama and Sita.
Karthigai Deepam
கார்த்திகை தீபம்
Tamil festival of lights — the giant flame on Arunachala Hill at Tiruvannamalai.
Geeta Jayanti
गीता जयंती
The day Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
Makaram
മകരംJan 14 – Feb 12· CapricornBegins with Makara Sankranti / Makaravilakku at Sabarimala — the climactic moment when the divine star appears.
Makar Sankranti
मकर संक्रांति
The sun begins its northward journey — the most auspicious solar event.
Magh Bihu
মাঘ বিহু
Assam's harvest festival — Uruka feast, Meji bonfire, and 7 days of feasting.
Vasant Panchami
वसंत पंचमी
The first day of spring + Saraswati Puja.
Kumbham
കുംഭംFeb 13 – Mar 13· AquariusMaha Shivaratri at Aluva and every Kerala Shiva temple. Attukal Pongala (women's mass-cooking ritual at Attukal Bhagavathy temple) falls here in some years.
Meenam
മീനംMar 14 – Apr 13· PiscesThe closing Malayalam month. Painkuni Uthiram and the start of Pooram festivals — Thrissur Pooram is the year's biggest temple festival in Kerala.