Vaikunta Ekadasi
December or January (lunar)/Vaishnava
The day Vaikunta Dwaram opens at Tirumala.
The festival calendar
The Hindu year has a festival on most weeks, but every family observes only some. Mytheertha shows the calendar with the regional and sampradaya markings that tell you which festival belongs to your family's practice, and what it means.
Pongal
January/Tamil, Pan-South Indian
The harvest festival of Tamil Nadu.
Thai Poosam
January or February (lunar)/Shaiva, Tamil
The day Parvati gave Murugan the vel; the festival of vows.
Maha Shivaratri
February or March (lunar)/Shaiva, Pan-Hindu
The great night of Shiva.
Holi
February or March (lunar)/Pan-Hindu
Observed in limited form in South India; stronger in northern and Vaishnava communities.
Tamil New Year
April/Tamil
The Tamil new year, celebrated on the first day of Chithirai.
Vishu
April/Kerala
The Malayalam new year.
Chitra Pournami
April or May (lunar)/Shaiva, Tamil
The wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar at Madurai.
Akshaya Tritiya
April or May (lunar)/Pan-Hindu
The auspicious day for new beginnings.
Vaikasi Visakam
May or June (lunar)/Shaiva, Tamil
The birth festival of Murugan.
Aadi Krithigai
July or August (lunar)/Shaiva, Tamil
The festival of Murugan in the month of Aadi.
Aadi Pooram
July or August (lunar)/Shakta, Tamil
The festival of the goddess Andal.
Aavani Avittam
August (lunar)/Brahmin, Vaishnava/Shaiva
The sacred thread renewal.
Onam
August or September/Kerala
The harvest festival of Kerala.
Vinayaka Chaturthi
August or September (lunar)/Pan-Hindu
The birthday of Ganesha.
Navaratri
September or October (lunar)/Shakta, Pan-Hindu
Nine nights of the goddess.
Vijayadashami
October (lunar)/Pan-Hindu
The tenth day; victory of the goddess.
Skanda Sashti
October or November (lunar)/Shaiva, Tamil
Six days of the slaying of Soorapadman.
Karthigai Deepam
November or December (lunar)/Shaiva, Tamil
The festival of lamps; the flame at Tiruvannamalai.