Tamil New Year dates (Puthandu)
When Tamil New Year (Puthandu) falls in 2027, 2028 and 2029: Chithirai 1 by the Tamil sunset rule at Chennai, with the moment of each Mesha Sankranti.
Wednesday, 14 April 2027
Tamil New Year is in 178 days. In 2027, the Sun enters Mesha at 15:28 on Wednesday, 14 April, before Chennai’s sunset at 18:20, so Chithirai begins that day.
Tamil New Year 2027Tamil New Year dates, 2027 to 2029
Reckoned at Chennai for every city; Indian time| Year | Tamil New Year | Sun enters Mesha |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil New Year 2027 | Wed 14 Apr | Wed 15:28 |
| Tamil New Year 2028 | Fri 14 Apr | Thu 21:44 |
| Tamil New Year 2029 | Sat 14 Apr | Sat 03:54 |
Tamil New Year (Puthandu) is the first day of the Tamil solar month of Chithirai, the Sun’s stay in sidereal Mesha. By the Tamil rule, an ingress between sunrise and sunset begins the month that day, and an ingress after sunset or before dawn begins it at the next sunrise. The Indian Calendar, Art. 28, p. 12
Popular practice: the mango pachadi, the kolam and temple visits.
Questions
The Tamil rule from Sewell and Dikshit’s The Indian Calendar (1896), with Warren’s Kala Sankalita (1825).
When is Tamil New Year?
For every city, reckoned at Chennai: Wednesday, 14 April 2027, Friday, 14 April 2028 and Saturday, 14 April 2029. The Indian Calendar, Art. 28, p. 12
How is the date fixed?
By the Tamil rule for the solar months: when the Sun enters sidereal Mesha between sunrise and sunset, the month of Chithirai begins that day, and when it enters after sunset or before dawn, at the next sunrise. Tamil New Year is the first day of Chithirai, reckoned at Chennai for every city. The Indian Calendar, Art. 28, p. 12
Is Puthandu the same as Vishu?
They begin with the same entry of the Sun into Mesha but follow different rules, so their days can differ. Tamil New Year is Chithirai 1 by the Tamil rule at Chennai; Vishu is the first sunrise after the ingress, as kept in Kerala, which is popular practice. In 2027 Tamil New Year falls on Wednesday, 14 April and Vishu on Thursday, 15 April. The Indian Calendar, Art. 28, p. 12
Is the date the same outside Tamil Nadu?
Yes. The day is reckoned at Chennai and holds for every city, in India and abroad.
How the day is found
Read the methodology- The day
- The first day of Chithirai: the day of the Mesha ingress when it comes before Chennai’s sunset, and the next day when it comes after sunset or before dawn (The Indian Calendar, Art. 28, p. 12). One date for every city.
- The ingress
- The Sun’s sidereal entry into Mesha, by the Lahiri ayanamsa, in Indian time.
- No times
- No time is given for any rite.
Sunrise and sunset at the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction · Lahiri ayanamsa · Indian time (IST), reckoned at Chennai for every city · Swiss Ephemeris · Method