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Tamil Nadu Festivals
Tamil Nadu's festival calendar is anchored by the Tamil solar calendar. The year begins with Puthandu (Tamil New Year) in April, followed by Chithirai Thiruvizha at Madurai. The harvest festival Pongal in January is the biggest 4-day celebration. Karthigai Deepam lights up entire cities in November, and Vaikuntha Ekadashi at Srirangam draws over a million devotees.
Pongal (4 days)
📅 Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Harvest festival — Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal
Thai Pusam
📅 January-February (Pusha nakshatra)
Murugan devotion — kavadi processions
Puthandu (Tamil New Year)
📅 Tuesday, 14 April 2026
First day of Chithirai month
Chithirai Thiruvizha
📅 April
Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar marriage at Madurai (12 days)
Aadi Perukku
📅 Monday, 3 August 2026
River worship of Cauvery
Vinayaka Chaturthi
📅 Monday, 14 September 2026
Ganesha festival
Navaratri / Golu
📅 Sunday, 11 October 2026 – Tuesday, 20 October 2026
9 nights of Devi, doll display (Bommai Golu)
Ayudha Puja + Vijayadashami
📅 Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Worship of tools; new learning begins
Deepavali
📅 Sunday, 8 November 2026
One-day celebration, unlike North India
Karthigai Deepam
📅 November-December
Festival of lights on Karthigai Purnima at Arunachala Hill
Vaikuntha Ekadashi
📅 Sunday, 20 December 2026
Northern gate of Vishnu opens at Srirangam
Dates for 2026 are worked out from the panchang — for New Delhi, or for the reference city of the state's own calendar where it has one. Where only a season is shown, the date is fixed locally each year.
Other states
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