Planning your month around festivals, fasting days, or an auspicious muhurtham? The Tamil Calendar November 2026 is one of the most important calendars of the year, because it covers the grand festival of Deepavali and the start of the sacred Karthigai month. This guide gives you a clear, easy-to-read breakdown of every important Tamil date in November 2026 — including Amavasai, Pournami, Ekadashi, Pradosham, and the much-loved Karthigai Deepam — along with a simple table you can save or print for daily reference.
Whether you follow a traditional wall calendar at home or check an app on your phone, this page is designed to give you the same information in one place, explained in plain language.
What Is the Tamil Calendar?
The Tamil calendar is a traditional lunisolar system that has guided daily life in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Sri Lanka, and among Tamil communities in Malaysia, Singapore, and across the world for centuries. Unlike the regular Gregorian calendar, it tracks both the sun’s position (solar month) and the moon’s phases (tithi and nakshatra) at the same time. This is why festival dates like Deepavali or Pongal don’t fall on the same Gregorian date every year.
The Tamil year has twelve months — Chithirai, Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi, Aavani, Purattasi, Aippasi, Karthigai, Margazhi, Thai, Maasi, and Panguni — and the new year (Puthandu) usually begins in mid-April. Families use this calendar to decide fasting days (vratham), temple visits, and muhurtham (auspicious) dates for weddings, housewarmings, and new business openings.
How to Download the Tamil Calendar November 2026 PDF
If you’d like to keep this calendar handy without an internet connection, you have a few easy options. Use the Download PDF button on this page to save a printable copy of the November 2026 Tamil calendar, or use your browser’s “Print to PDF” option to store a copy on your phone or computer. Many readers also like to print the table above and stick it on their fridge or work desk as a quick daily reference for festivals and vratham days.
Tamil Calendar November 2026 — Festival & Muhurtham Dates
Here is a simple table of the major festivals, vratham (fasting) days, and important tithis in the Tamil Calendar 2026 November. Exact tithi start and end times can shift slightly by a few hours depending on your city, so always cross-check the precise timing with your local panchangam if you are planning a ritual.
| Date (2026) | Day | Festival / Muhurtham / Event |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 | Thursday | Ekadashi (Rama Ekadashi) |
| Nov 6 | Friday | Pradosham, Dhana Trayodashi |
| Nov 7 | Saturday | Masa Shivaratri |
| Nov 8 | Sunday | Deepavali (Naraka Chaturdashi, Kedara Gowri Vratham) |
| Nov 9 | Monday | Amavasai (New Moon – Tarpanam Day) |
| Nov 10 | Tuesday | Chandra Darshan, Govardhan Puja |
| Nov 13 | Friday | Chaturthi Vratham |
| Nov 15 | Sunday | Soorasamharam, Skanda Shashti Vratham |
| Nov 16 | Monday | Vrischika Sankranti (Aippasi month ends) |
| Nov 17 | Tuesday | Karthigai Month Begins |
| Nov 18 | Wednesday | Akshaya Navami |
| Nov 20 | Friday | Ekadashi |
| Nov 21 | Saturday | Tulsi Kalyanam |
| Nov 22 | Sunday | Pradosham |
| Nov 24 | Tuesday | Pournami (Full Moon), Karthigai Deepam, Bharani Deepam |
| Nov 27 | Friday | Sankatahara Chaturthi |
Major Festivals in the Tamil Calendar November 2026
Deepavali – November 8, 2026 (Sunday)
Deepavali, the festival of lights, is the biggest highlight of the Tamil Calendar November 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the main ritual is a pre-dawn oil bath (Ganga Snanam) followed by wearing new clothes, lighting lamps, offering prayers, and bursting crackers — all done in the early morning hours rather than in the evening, which is a custom unique to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It marks the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura.
Amavasai – November 9, 2026 (Monday)
Amavasai, or the new moon day, is traditionally observed as a day for Tarpanam — offering respects to ancestors. Many families visit temples or riverbanks on this day, and it is considered a good time for reflection and remembering elders.
Skanda Shashti and Soorasamharam – November 15, 2026 (Sunday)
This day marks the closing of the six-day Skanda Shashti Vratham, a fasting period dedicated to Lord Murugan. Soorasamharam re-enacts Murugan’s victory over the demon Soorapadman and is celebrated with great devotion at Murugan temples such as Thiruchendur and Tiruttani.
Karthigai Month Begins – November 17, 2026 (Tuesday)
The Tamil month of Karthigai starts on this date and continues into mid-December. This month is considered spiritually powerful, ruled by the Krithika Nakshatra, and is closely tied to fire rituals and devotion to Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan.
Ekadashi and Pradosham Days
Ekadashi (the 11th lunar day) and Pradosham (observed twice a month before sunset) are fasting days followed by devotees of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva respectively. In November 2026, Ekadashi falls on the 5th and 20th, while Pradosham falls on the 6th and 22nd.
Pournami and Karthigai Deepam – November 24, 2026 (Tuesday)
This is the second major highlight of the month. Pournami (full moon) in Karthigai month coincides with the Karthigai Nakshatra, giving rise to Karthigai Deepam — one of the oldest Tamil festivals, with roots in Sangam-era literature dating back roughly 2,000 years. Homes are decorated with rows of clay lamps (agal vilakku), and the most famous celebration takes place at the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Thiruvannamalai, where a giant Maha Deepam is lit atop the hill, visible for miles around and witnessed by lakhs of devotees.
Auspicious (Muhurtham) Days in November 2026
Many families ask whether November is a good month for weddings, housewarming ceremonies (Griha Pravesam), or starting a new business. Broadly speaking:
- The early part of the month, right after Deepavali, is generally considered favourable once the new moon period passes.
- The Karthigai month (from November 17 onward) is traditionally seen as a spiritually strong period, though it is not always preferred for weddings in every region, since customs vary between families and communities.
- Days like Amavasai and Rahu Kalam hours are usually avoided for new beginnings.
Because muhurtham timing also depends on the birth stars (nakshatra) of the individuals involved, it’s best to confirm exact auspicious dates and times with your family priest or a trusted local panchangam before finalising any event.
Tips to Use the Tamil Calendar November 2026 Effectively
A calendar is only useful if it fits into your daily routine. Here are a few simple ways to make the most of the Tamil Calendar November 2026:
- Mark fasting days in advance. Ekadashi and Pradosham fall on fixed lunar dates, so noting them at the start of the month helps you plan meals and prayer time without last-minute confusion.
- Plan temple visits around Karthigai Deepam. If you’re travelling to Thiruvannamalai or any major Shiva or Murugan temple, book accommodation early since November 24 draws large crowds across Tamil Nadu.
- Cross-check muhurtham dates with family elders. Many households still rely on a trusted family astrologer, and their input, combined with this calendar, gives a fuller picture before finalising an event date.
- Use the table as a quick reference, not a legal document. This calendar is meant for general planning; for religious ceremonies with financial or legal significance, always confirm with a qualified panchangam expert.
Why This Tamil Calendar Guide Is Reliable
The dates listed in this Tamil Calendar November 2026 guide are based on standard Tamil Panchangam calculations for the Parabhava year, referenced against sunrise-based tithi timings for Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Because the Tamil calendar depends on the exact moment a tithi or nakshatra begins and ends, some regional almanacs (panchangams) may show a festival shifting by a day depending on the city and the specific calculation method used. When a date is especially important to you — such as a wedding muhurtham — it’s always worth double-checking with a local temple priest or a printed panchangam from your region.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. When is Deepavali in November 2026? Deepavali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026, across Tamil Nadu.
2. When does the Karthigai month start in the Tamil calendar 2026? Karthigai month begins on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, and continues until mid-December.
3. What date is Karthigai Deepam in 2026? Karthigai Deepam, the festival of a thousand lamps, falls on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, which is also the Pournami (full moon) day.
4. How many Ekadashi and Pradosham days are there in November 2026? There are two Ekadashi days (November 5 and 20) and two Pradosham days (November 6 and 22) in the Tamil calendar for November 2026.
5. Is November 2026 a good month for a wedding muhurtham? Some dates after Deepavali and during the Karthigai month are traditionally considered favourable, but it’s best to confirm the exact muhurtham with a priest, since it also depends on the birth stars of the bride and groom.
6. Where can I get the exact tithi timing for my city? Tithi start and end times change slightly by location. For precise timings, check a panchangam specific to your city rather than relying only on Chennai-based timings.
7. Does the Tamil calendar for November 2026 differ between publishers like GRT or Nithra? The festival names and general dates stay the same across most publishers, but the exact hour a tithi begins or ends can occasionally push a fasting day forward or back by a day in a particular city. This happens because different panchangams sometimes use slightly different sunrise references or calculation methods. If two calendars disagree on a single date, it’s usually this small technical difference rather than an error.
Conclusion
The Tamil Calendar November 2026 brings together two special months — the closing days of Aippasi with Deepavali, and the opening of the sacred Karthigai month with its festival of lamps. Whether you’re planning to observe a fasting day, book a muhurtham, or simply want to stay connected with tradition, keeping this calendar handy makes it easy to plan your month around what matters most. Save this page, download the PDF, or bookmark it so you always have the right dates at your fingertips.