India’s timezone & time reference

1st

Chithirai

Tamil

Mesham (♈)

Major Festivals

Tamil New Year

Apr 14

Marks the start of the Tamil solar year. Celebrated across Tamil Nadu with new clothes, special foods (mango rice, jaggery), and family gatherings.

Baisakhi

Apr 13–14

Harvest festival celebrated in North India and Punjab, coinciding with Tamil New Year.

Auspicious Days for Rituals & Events

✓ Chithirai Pournami (Full moon) — auspicious for starting new ventures
✓ Sundays for Sun transit — power days
✓ Chithirai Amavasai (New moon) — for home rituals

About Chithirai

Chithirai is the first month of the Tamil solar calendar, marking spring's full bloom. In Chennai and Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Tamil New Year with thrilling excitement — families wear new clothes, exchange sweets (especially mango rice and jaggery), and temples are filled with devotees. Astrologically, the Sun enters Aries (Mesham), a fire sign symbolizing new beginnings, courage, and enterprise. This is prime time for starting businesses, marriages, or housewarming ceremonies. IST-aware worshippers across the diaspora mark this date as a reconnection to their cultural roots, even from distant time zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Tamil New Year 2026?
Tamil New Year 2026 is celebrated on April 14, 2026. It marks the beginning of the Tamil solar calendar month of Chithirai and the Hindu zodiacal month of Aries (Mesham). Celebrations typically begin on this date, though some regions observe it on April 13 based on local astronomical calculations.
What is special about Chithirai in Tamil culture?
Chithirai is the most auspicious month for new beginnings in Tamil culture. The Tamil calendar, unlike the lunar Vikram Samvat used in North India, is solar-based, making Chithirai astronomically significant as the month when the Sun enters Aries. Homes are cleaned and decorated, new clothes are worn, and mango rice or jaggery sweets (payesam) are prepared. It is also a favoured month for marriages, housewarming ceremonies, and business launches.
How does the Tamil solar calendar differ from other Indian calendars?
The Tamil solar calendar (Tamilnadu Panchang) is based on the Sun's position in the zodiac, unlike lunar calendars (Vikram Samvat, Islamic Hijri). Each Tamil month begins when the Sun enters a new zodiacal sign (Rasi). This makes the Tamil calendar closely aligned with the Gregorian calendar — Chithirai always falls around mid-April to mid-May. This solar system is shared by Kerala (Malayalam calendar) and other South Indian traditions but differs from Hindi Panchang, which follows lunar cycles.

View Chithirai in Other Languages

Telugu Hindi Kannada Gujarati Rajasthani
All Tamil Months