Malayalam Calendar 2026 December: changes the Malayalam month in the middle of the calendar. The first half belongs to Vrischikam, and on December 16 the new month of Dhanu begins. The month also brings the end of the 41-day Mandalakalam at Sabarimala, the Thiruvathira star day, and Christmas.
This guide gives you the Malayalam calendar for December 2026 in plain English. You will find the Malayalam date for key days, the major festivals, Ekadashi, Pradosham and Sankashti fasting days, and Kerala events such as Vaikathashtami and Puthari Thiruvappana. All dates follow Indian Standard Time.
December 2026 Malayalam Calendar at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gregorian month | December 2026 (31 days) |
| First day | Tuesday, December 1 |
| Last day | Thursday, December 31 |
| Malayalam months | Vrischikam (December 1 to 15), Dhanu (December 16 to 31) |
| Kollavarsham year | 1202 |
| Dhanu Sankranti and Dhanu 1 | Wednesday, December 16 |
| New moon (Amavasya) | Tuesday, December 8 |
| Full moon (Purnima) | Wednesday, December 23 (tithi runs into the morning of December 24) |
December 2026 Malayalam Calendar PDF and Image
[Insert your December 2026 calendar image here. Suggested alt text: “December 2026 Malayalam calendar showing Vrischikam and Dhanu dates with festivals.”]
Malayalam Dates for December 2026
The Malayalam calendar, also called the Kollavarsham or Kollam Era, is a solar calendar. A month begins when the Sun enters a new zodiac sign. Vrischikam began on November 17 and lasts 29 days, so its last day is December 15. Dhanu then starts on December 16.
| English date | Day | Malayalam date |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 | Tuesday | Vrischikam 15 |
| December 8 | Tuesday | Vrischikam 22 |
| December 15 | Tuesday | Vrischikam 29 |
| December 16 | Wednesday | Dhanu 1 |
| December 20 | Sunday | Dhanu 5 |
| December 24 | Thursday | Dhanu 9 |
| December 25 | Friday | Dhanu 10 |
| December 27 | Sunday | Dhanu 12 |
| December 31 | Thursday | Dhanu 16 |
The Kollavarsham year changes at Chingam 1 in August, which is why all of December 2026 is still year 1202.
December 2026 Malayalam Calendar: Festival List
| Date | Day | Festival or observance |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 | Tuesday | Vaikathashtami, Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam |
| December 2 | Wednesday | Puthari Thiruvappana, Sri Muthappan Temple, Parassinikadavu, Kannur |
| December 4 | Friday | Utpanna Ekadashi, fasting day for Lord Vishnu |
| December 6 | Sunday | Pradosham (Krishna Paksha) |
| December 7 | Monday | Masik Shivaratri |
| December 8 | Tuesday | Amavasya (new moon) |
| December 16 | Wednesday | Dhanu Sankranti and the start of Dhanu |
| December 20 | Sunday | Mokshada Ekadashi, Gita Jayanti |
| December 21 | Monday | Pradosham (Shukla Paksha) |
| December 23 | Wednesday | Margashirsha Purnima and Datta Jayanti |
| December 24 | Thursday | Thiruvathira (Arudra Darshan) |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas |
| December 26 | Saturday | Sankashti Chaturthi |
| December 27 | Sunday | Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala (expected) |
| December 30 | Wednesday | Sabarimala expected to reopen for the Makaravilakku season |
Some of these dates move by a day depending on the calendar and the city. The section on date differences below explains why. For temple rituals and family ceremonies, confirm the day with your local temple or church.
What Is Dhanu and Why Does Dhanu 1 Matter?
Dhanu is the fifth month of the Malayalam year, which begins with Chingam in August. It starts when the Sun enters Sagittarius, a moment called Dhanu Sankranti. In 2026 this happens on the morning of December 16, so Dhanu 1 falls on Wednesday, December 16.
In Kerala, Dhanu is known for cool mornings, early temple visits and the festival of Thiruvathira. The same Sankranti starts the month of Margazhi in Tamil Nadu and Dhanurmasam in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Many temples hold special early-morning pujas through this period.
Dhanu lasts until Makaram begins in mid-January 2027, when the Makaravilakku season reaches its peak at Sabarimala.
Mandala Pooja and Sabarimala in December
The Mandalakalam began on November 17 and runs for 41 days. Counting from that day, the Mandala Pooja falls on Sunday, December 27, 2026. This is the last big pooja of the first phase of the pilgrimage season. The temple is expected to close that night.
After a short break, the temple is expected to reopen on December 30 for the Makaravilakku season, which is expected to peak with Makaravilakku on January 14, 2027. These dates are projected from the Malayalam solar calendar. The Travancore Devaswom Board announces the official schedule, so check its notices before you travel.
Ekadashi, Pradosham, Sankashti and Moon-Phase Days
| Observance | Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utpanna Ekadashi | December 4 | Friday | Fasting day for Lord Vishnu |
| Pradosham (Krishna Paksha) | December 6 | Sunday | Evening worship of Lord Shiva, also called Ravi Pradosham |
| Masik Shivaratri | December 7 | Monday | Monthly Shiva observance |
| Amavasya | December 8 | Tuesday | New moon, tithi ends in the early morning of December 9 |
| Mokshada Ekadashi | December 20 | Sunday | Also Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi |
| Pradosham (Shukla Paksha) | December 21 | Monday | Also called Soma Pradosham |
| Purnima | December 23 | Wednesday | Full moon vrat, Datta Jayanti |
| Sankashti Chaturthi | December 26 | Saturday | Fasting day for Lord Ganesha; the fast ends after moonrise |
Moonrise times change from city to city. For example, Sankashti moonrise on December 26 is about 8:19 PM in Delhi and 8:32 PM in Hyderabad. If you keep a strict fast, check the exact time for your own town in a local panchangam.
Fasting customs differ from family to family. On Ekadashi, some people avoid rice and grains for the day, some take only fruit and milk, and many break the fast the next morning after sunrise. Pradosham worship is held in the evening twilight around sunset, so plan to reach the temple a little before dusk. Anyone with a health condition should follow a doctor’s advice instead of a strict fast.
Thiruvathira in Dhanu
Thiruvathira is the Ardra star day, and the one in Dhanu is the most important of the year for many Malayali families. In 2026 the Ardra star begins on the morning of Thursday, December 24, and ends in the early hours of December 25. Most calendars therefore list Thiruvathira on December 24. The same day is observed as Arudra Darshan in Tamil Nadu.
Women traditionally fast on this day, sing together and perform the Thiruvathira kali, a group dance around a lamp. A special dish of mixed tubers and plantain is also prepared. Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva hold special pujas and abhishekam.
Christmas in Kerala
Christmas falls on Friday, December 25, 2026, and is a public holiday across India. Kerala has one of the largest Christian communities in the country, so the festival is visible everywhere. Churches hold midnight Mass on the night of December 24, houses hang stars, and bakeries sell plum cake in large numbers. Many towns also hold carol processions in the second half of December.
If you plan to travel on Christmas weekend, note that it also falls close to the Mandala Pooja on December 27, so trains and buses on Sabarimala routes can be crowded.
Kerala Events in December 2026
- Vaikathashtami (December 1): A major festival at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple in Kottayam. It is listed in the Kerala Tourism festival calendar. The day also coincides with Kalabhairava Jayanti in some North Indian listings.
- Puthari Thiruvappana (December 2): A harvest festival at the Sri Muthappan Temple in Parassinikadavu, Kannur.
- Thiruvathira (December 24): Celebrated in homes and Shiva temples across Kerala.
- Christmas (December 25): Midnight Mass, carols and church events across the state.
- Mandala Pooja (December 27, expected): The conclusion of the 41-day Mandalakalam at Sabarimala.
Local temple festivals and church feasts publish their own dates, so check the notice board or website of your nearest temple or church.
Why Malayalam Calendar Dates Can Differ by a Day
If you compare two December 2026 calendars, you may notice small differences. This is common, and there are three usual reasons.
- Tithi timing. A tithi can begin or end during the day. The December full moon is a good example. The Purnima tithi begins around the late morning of December 23 and ends in the early morning of December 24. Most calendars place the Purnima vrat and Datta Jayanti on December 23, while some list Annapurna Jayanti on December 24.
- Moonrise and location. Sankashti Chaturthi depends on moonrise. In most of India it falls on December 26, while a few eastern cities such as Kolkata observe it on December 27.
- Sankranti rule. The Malayalam month starts on the day the Sun enters a new sign if that happens before the middle of the afternoon, and on the next day if it happens later. Dhanu Sankranti is in the morning of December 16, so Dhanu 1 is December 16. A calendar printed outside India may differ.
For Kerala, use a calendar calculated for Indian Standard Time and Kerala’s convention.
How to Use This Calendar for Planning
- Fasting days: Mark Ekadashi, Pradosham and Sankashti in your phone calendar a day early.
- Pilgrims: Expect large crowds around Mandala Pooja on December 27. Book travel and rooms early.
- Thiruvathira: If you observe the fast, confirm the star timing with your temple, since Ardra begins early in the morning of December 24.
- Year-end travel: Christmas, Thiruvathira and Mandala Pooja fall within four days of each other, so plan ahead.
How This Guide Stays Accurate
The dates in this guide are compiled from published Hindu panchang references, the Kerala Tourism festival calendar and temple announcements, and then cross-checked against each other. Where sources disagree, this page says so instead of choosing a date silently. Sabarimala dates are projected from the Malayalam solar calendar and are subject to the Travancore Devaswom Board’s notice.
This page is reviewed before the start of each month. If a date differs from your local temple or church, trust the local announcement.
FAQs About the Malayalam Calendar for December 2026
Which Malayalam month is December 2026? December 2026 covers two Malayalam months. Vrischikam runs from December 1 to 15, and Dhanu runs from December 16 to 31.
When does Dhanu start in 2026? Dhanu 1 is on Wednesday, December 16, 2026. The Sun enters Sagittarius on the morning of that day.
Which Kollavarsham year is December 2026? Kollavarsham year 1202. The year changes in August at Chingam 1.
When is Mokshada Ekadashi in 2026? Mokshada Ekadashi, also called Gita Jayanti, is on Sunday, December 20, 2026.
When is Thiruvathira in December 2026? Thiruvathira falls on Thursday, December 24, 2026, when the Ardra star begins in the morning.
When is Sankashti Chaturthi in December 2026? Saturday, December 26, 2026, in most of India. A few eastern cities observe it on December 27.
When is the Mandala Pooja in 2026? The Mandala Pooja is expected on Sunday, December 27, 2026, at the end of the 41-day Mandalakalam. Check the Travancore Devaswom Board for the official schedule.
Is Christmas a holiday in Kerala? Yes. Christmas, on Friday, December 25, 2026, is a public holiday in India.
When is Guruvayur Ekadasi in 2026? Guruvayur Ekadasi falls in the month of Vrischikam, and in 2026 it is on Saturday, November 21, not in December.
Final Thoughts
December 2026 moves from the last weeks of Vrischikam into the new month of Dhanu on December 16. The dates to remember are Mokshada Ekadashi on December 20, Thiruvathira on December 24, Christmas on December 25 and the expected Mandala Pooja on December 27. Save this page, check your local temple for the final word on ritual dates, and use the tables above to plan the month ahead.