Tamil New Year / Puthandu 2026 தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு
Tuesday, 14 April 2026
The day in the Tamil calendar
| Date | Tuesday, 14 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tamil date | Chithirai 1 சித்திரை |
| Tithi at sunrise | Dwadashi (துவாதசி) until 12:12 AM, Apr 15 · Krishna Paksha |
| Nakshatra at sunrise | Shatabhisha (சதயம்) until 4:06 PM |
| Sunrise / Sunset | 6:00 AM / 6:18 PM |
| Tamil Nadu holiday | Yes (TN Gazette Extraordinary No. 721, 11-Nov-2025, G.O. Ms. No. 708 Public(Misc) Dept (stationeryprinting.tn.gov.in/extraordinary/2025/721_Ex_II_1_2025.pdf)) |
Timings for Chennai. The date follows the Tamil Nadu calendar.
About the festival
Puthandu is the Tamil New Year, observed on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai, which usually falls on 14 April.1,2,3
Families traditionally clean and decorate their homes with kolam, arrange a tray of fruits, flowers, betel leaves and other auspicious items, visit temples and share a festive vegetarian meal.1,2
Between 2008 and 2011 a Tamil Nadu law named the first day of Thai as the Tamil New Year; that law was repealed in 2011 and the Chithirai date was restored.1,2
Tamil New Year's Day is a public holiday in Tamil Nadu.3
When it falls: Puthandu falls on the first day of Chithirai, the Tamil solar month that begins when the Sun enters the sidereal sign Mesha (Aries).1,2,4
Sources
Tamil New Year / Puthandu in other years
| 2025 | Monday, 14 April 2025 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 14 April 2026 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, 14 April 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday, 14 April 2028 |