January is one of the more eventful months on the Malayalam Calendar 2026, since it carries the year across two Malayalam months rather than just one. The month opens in the tail end of Dhanu Masam, moves through Thiruvathira and Makara Sankranti, and by mid-month crosses over into Makaram Masam — Kerala’s sixth month and one closely tied to Sabarimala pilgrimage season. This guide lays out every major festival, Ekadashi, and Vrat date for January 2026 in one place, along with what each one means.
Alongside the religious dates, January also brings Republic Day and the usual mix of Ekadashi and Pradosh fasts that repeat every month. Whether you’re tracking this for a home puja routine or simply want to know when Dhanu gives way to Makaram this year, the breakdown below covers it.
How to Download the Malayalam Calendar January 2026 PDF (Free)
If you’d rather keep this month’s calendar saved on your phone or printed out than check a webpage every day, you can download the Malayalam Calendar January 2026 as a PDF in a few quick steps. The PDF carries the same festival dates, Vrat list, and Sankranti details covered in this article, laid out in a clean, printable format.
- Look for the download link on this page, usually placed just below the festival table or near the end of the article.
- Tap or click “Download PDF.” The file will open in a new browser tab.
- Save it to your device — on mobile, use the share or download icon inside your PDF viewer; on desktop, press Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on Mac).
- Print it out if you’d like a physical copy for your puja room or kitchen wall.
- Check back at the start of February for next month’s edition, since a fresh PDF is published every month.
Understanding the Malayalam Calendar: Dhanu Gives Way to Makaram
Unlike the North Indian Hindu calendar, which tracks months by the moon, the Malayalam Calendar (also called Kollavarsham, currently in year 1201) is a solar calendar — each month begins when the sun enters a new zodiac sign, a moment called Sankranti or Sankramam. January 2026 sits across two such months: Dhanu Masam, which runs from December 16, 2025, to January 14, 2026, and Makaram Masam, which begins on January 15, 2026, and continues until February 12, 2026.
The switch from Dhanu to Makaram is marked by Makara Sankranti on January 14, when the sun moves into Capricorn (Makara Rashi) and Uttarayana, the sun’s northward journey, begins. This is also the day Makaravilakku is observed at Sabarimala, marking the end of the temple’s 41-day Mandala Puja season. Once Makaram Masam begins the next day, it becomes the reference month for the rest of January’s Vrat and festival dates on a traditional Malayalam calendar.
You’ll also come across two Malayalam-specific terms worth knowing: Amavasya (the no-moon day) is called Karutha Vavu, and Purnima (the full-moon day) is called Velutha Vavu. Both are traditionally marked with Vavu Bali, a ritual offering made to ancestors, often performed on riverbanks or at the coast.
Major Festivals and Observances in January 2026
| Date | Day | Festival / Occasion | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3, 2026 | Saturday | Thiruvathira | Kerala’s women-centred festival honouring Lord Shiva, observed in Dhanu Masam |
| Jan 14, 2026 | Wednesday | Makara Sankranti / Pongal | Sun’s transition into Capricorn; Uttarayana begins; Makaravilakku at Sabarimala |
| Jan 15, 2026 | Thursday | Makaram Masam begins | First day of Makaram, the sixth month of the Malayalam calendar |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Thursday | Vinayaka Chaturthi / Ganesh Jayanti | A monthly Ganesha observance in Magha Shukla Paksha |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Friday | Vasant Panchami | Worship of Goddess Saraswati; favourable for beginning studies and creative work |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day | National holiday |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Tuesday | Makara Bharani | Major festival day at Bhagavathi temples across Kerala |
The Story Behind the Month’s Key Observances
Thiruvathira, on January 3, is one of Kerala’s most distinctive festivals — observed almost entirely by women, with very little of the temple-procession spectacle seen elsewhere. It falls on the Thiruvathira Nakshatra day in Dhanu Masam, believed to mark Lord Shiva’s birth star, and the same story is tied to Shiva’s return after his period of penance following Sati’s death. Married women fast and pray for their husbands’ long life, unmarried women pray for a good life partner, and the day is best known for Thiruvathirakali (also called Kaikottikali), a graceful circular group dance performed around a traditional Nilavilakku lamp, alongside the preparation of dishes like Thiruvathira Puzhukku and Ettangadi.
Makara Sankranti on January 14 marks the sun’s move into Capricorn and is celebrated across India under different names — Makara Sankranti in Kerala, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Uttarayan elsewhere — all tied to the same solar event. In Kerala, it is closely associated with Makaravilakku at Sabarimala, the sacred flame sighted on the hill at the close of the Mandala pilgrimage season, drawing enormous crowds of devotees each year.
Vinayaka Chaturthi on January 22, sometimes also marked as Ganesh Jayanti, is a monthly Ganesha observance falling on the fourth day of Magha Shukla Paksha. A day later, Vasant Panchami on January 23 is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and widely considered an auspicious day to begin a child’s education, start learning a musical instrument, or inaugurate any new creative pursuit.
Ekadashi, Purnima and Amavasya (Vavu) Dates — January 2026
| Date | Day | Vrat / Tithi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | Thursday | Pradosh Vrat (Shukla Paksha) | Evening fast for Lord Shiva, opening the new year |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Saturday | Pausha Purnima (Velutha Vavu) | Full moon day, coinciding with Thiruvathira this year |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Tuesday | Sankashti Chaturthi | Monthly fast for Lord Ganesha, broken after moonrise |
| Jan 14, 2026 | Wednesday | Saphala Ekadashi | Fasting for Lord Vishnu on the Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of the month |
| Jan 15, 2026 | Thursday | Masik Shivaratri | Monthly Shiva observance, falling on Krishna Chaturdashi |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Friday | Pradosh Vrat (Krishna Paksha) | Second evening Shiva fast of the month |
| Jan 18, 2026 | Sunday | Magha Amavasya (Karutha Vavu / Mauni Amavasya) | New moon day, favourable for Vavu Bali and ancestor worship |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Saturday | Shasti Vrat | Fast dedicated to Lord Subramanya (Murugan) |
| Jan 25, 2026 | Sunday | Ratha Saptami | A Surya (Sun God) festival marking the approach of spring |
| Jan 29, 2026 | Thursday | Jaya Ekadashi | Fasting for Lord Vishnu on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of Makaram Masam |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Friday | Pradosh Vrat (Shukla Paksha) | Third and final Pradosh Vrat of the month |
Karutha Vavu on January 18 deserves a closer look, since it’s widely observed in Kerala as Mauni Amavasya as well — a day associated with silence, holy dips, and Pitru Tarpan. Many families in Kerala perform Vavu Bali on this date at a riverbank, backwater, or coastal spot, offering rice balls and sesame seeds in memory of departed ancestors, a practice that continues at select spots year-round but carries extra significance on this particular Amavasya.
Kerala-Specific Dates Worth Noting
A couple of dates on this month’s calendar are distinctly regional and don’t always appear on a generic North Indian Panchang. Makara Bharani, on January 27, is a major festival day at Bhagavathi temples across Kerala, observed when the moon transits the Bharani Nakshatra during Makaram Masam. Shasti Vrat, on January 24, is dedicated to Lord Subramanya (Murugan) and is commonly observed at temples associated with him, including in the lead-up to Thaipusam early the following month.
Reading the Malayalam Calendar Beyond Festival Names
A Malayalam calendar is useful for more than just the named festivals — most printed editions also list daily Nakshatra, Rahu Kalam, and Yamagandam timings, which many households still check before starting something important, such as a journey, a purchase, or a new task. If you’re using a printed calendar, check the Rahu Kalam column specific to your own city, since this window (roughly ninety minutes long) shifts daily and is usually best avoided for starting anything new.
Tips for Observing January’s Fasts
- Thiruvathira: Traditionally a Nirjala or near-fasting observance for married women; those with health conditions can switch to a partial, fruit-based fast.
- Ekadashi fasts (Saphala and Jaya): Grains and rice are typically avoided; the fast is broken the following morning after sunrise.
- Pradosh Vrat: Best observed with evening prayers during Pradosh Kaal, roughly the ninety minutes around sunset.
- Karutha Vavu (Amavasya): Vavu Bali rituals are usually performed before midday, ideally after an early morning bath.
As always, health comes first. Elderly family members, pregnant women, and anyone managing a health condition should adapt a fast sensibly rather than attempting a strict Vrat purely out of ritual pressure.
January 2026 at a Glance
- Pradosh Vrat (Shukla Paksha): January 1
- Pausha Purnima & Thiruvathira: January 3
- Sankashti Chaturthi: January 6
- Saphala Ekadashi & Makara Sankranti: January 14
- Makaram Masam begins & Masik Shivaratri: January 15
- Pradosh Vrat (Krishna Paksha): January 16
- Magha Amavasya (Karutha Vavu): January 18
- Shasti Vrat: January 24
- Ratha Saptami: January 25
- Republic Day: January 26
- Makara Bharani: January 27
- Jaya Ekadashi: January 29
- Pradosh Vrat (Shukla Paksha): January 30
- Vinayaka Chaturthi / Ganesh Jayanti: January 22
- Vasant Panchami: January 23
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Makaram Masam begin in 2026? Makaram Masam begins on January 15, 2026, a day after Makara Sankranti on January 14, and continues until February 12, 2026.
When is Thiruvathira in 2026? Thiruvathira falls on Saturday, January 3, 2026, observed in Dhanu Masam and marked by the Thiruvathirakali dance and a fast for married and unmarried women.
How many Ekadashi fasts fall in January 2026? Two — Saphala Ekadashi on January 14 and Jaya Ekadashi on January 29.
What is Karutha Vavu? Karutha Vavu is the Malayalam term for Amavasya (new moon day). In January 2026 it falls on January 18, also observed as Mauni Amavasya, and is associated with Vavu Bali rituals for ancestors.
Is January 26 a public holiday in Kerala? Yes, Republic Day on January 26 is a national holiday observed across Kerala and all of India.
Can I download the Malayalam Calendar January 2026 PDF for free? Yes. The PDF version, covering the same festival, Ekadashi, and Vrat dates in this article, is available to download free of charge, with no login required.
Conclusion
January 2026 carries the Malayalam calendar across a genuine turning point — from the closing days of Dhanu Masam and the women’s festival of Thiruvathira, through Makara Sankranti, and into Makaram Masam by mid-month. With two Pradosh Vrats, two Ekadashi fasts, and Kerala-specific dates like Makara Bharani and Shasti Vrat along the way, this Malayalam Calendar January 2026 gives you a single, accurate reference to follow the month’s festivals and Vrat days.