November is the month Kerala’s pilgrimage season begins. This guide lays out the complete Malayalam Calendar 2026 November, covering every major festival, Ekadashi, Pradosham, and Sankranti date in one reliable reference — including a few corrections to dates that are circulating inaccurately elsewhere online this year.
The month opens in Thulam and moves into Vrischikam from November 16, the moment that kicks off the 41-day Mandala Kalam at Sabarimala. Below is a clear, date-wise breakdown of everything that matters this month.
How to Download the Malayalam Calendar 2026 November PDF (Free)
If you’d like to keep this month’s calendar handy without an internet connection, you can save the Malayalam Calendar 2026 November as a PDF in a few simple steps. The PDF carries the same festival, Sankranti, and Vrat dates covered in this article, laid out in an easy-to-read format that’s convenient to print or share.
- Scroll to the download link on this page, placed just below this section or at the end of the article.
- Click “Download PDF.” The file opens in a new browser tab.
- Save it to your device — tap the share or download icon on mobile, or use Ctrl+S (Cmd+S on Mac) on desktop.
- Print it out if you prefer a physical copy for your puja room or kitchen wall.
- Check back monthly, since a fresh PDF is published for every month’s calendar.
Major Festivals in the Malayalam Calendar — November 2026
| Date | Day | Festival | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Sunday | Ahoi Ashtami | North Indian fast observed by mothers for their children’s wellbeing |
| Nov 16, 2026 | Monday | Vrischikam Sankranti | The sun enters Vrischikam (Scorpio); Vrischikam month begins |
| Nov 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Mandala Kalam Begins | Start of the 41-day Sabarimala Ayyappa pilgrimage season |
| Nov 20–21, 2026 | Fri–Sat | Guruvayur Ekadashi (Dev Uthani Ekadashi) | Kartik Shukla Ekadashi; major festival day at Guruvayur Temple, also marks the end of Chaturmas elsewhere in India |
| Nov 24, 2026 | Tuesday | Kartik Purnima (Guru Nanak Jayanti) | Full moon of Kartik month; also Karthigai Deepam and Dev Deepawali |
Vrat and Pradosham Dates — November 2026
| Date | Day | Vrat / Tithi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | Friday | Pradosham Vratam (Krishna Paksha) | Evening fast for Lord Shiva |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Sunday | Pradosham Vratam (Shukla Paksha) | Evening fast for Lord Shiva, close to Kartik Purnima |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Friday | Sankashti Chaturthi | Monthly fast for Lord Ganesha |
Understanding This Month’s Malayalam Calendar Structure
November 2026 opens in Thulam month and shifts into Vrischikam, the fourth month of Kollavarsham, on November 16 — the date is called Vrischikam Sankranti, marking the sun’s entry into the Vrischikam (Scorpio) sign. Vrischikam is one of the most spiritually significant months in Kerala’s calendar, since the first day of the month opens the Mandala Kalam pilgrimage season at Sabarimala.
As with other months, this article separates the solar Sankranti-based dates specific to the Malayalam Calendar from the lunar Vrat dates — Ekadashi, Pradosham, Purnima — which follow the pan-Indian Tithi cycle shared across the country.
Mandala Kalam Begins: Sabarimala’s 41-Day Pilgrimage Season
Mandala Kalam, the most significant pilgrimage period at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, begins on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, the first day of Vrischikam month, and runs for 41 days. Devotees who wish to undertake the pilgrimage typically begin a period of austerity in advance — wearing a Rudraksha or Tulsi mala, avoiding non-vegetarian food, and observing celibacy and simple living through the Vratham.
Those completing the pilgrimage during this window carry the Irumudi, a two-part cloth bundle containing offerings for Lord Ayyappa, and many also visit the Guruvayur Krishna Temple as part of the same pilgrimage tradition. This year’s Mandala Kalam season runs through late December, closing with Mandala Pooja, before the temple reopens for the shorter Makaravilakku season in the new year.
Guruvayur Ekadashi: A Major Day, Observed on Two Dates
The Ekadashi falling in the Kartik Shukla Paksha this year is one of the most significant of the entire year, known across India as Dev Uthani or Prabodhini Ekadashi, and celebrated at Guruvayur Temple specifically as Guruvayur Ekadashi, one of the temple’s biggest festival days.
This year’s observance genuinely splits across two dates because of how the Ekadashi Tithi falls relative to sunrise: most households and the Smarta tradition observe the fast on Friday, November 20, 2026, while the Vaishnava tradition, followed at many temples including Guruvayur, observes it a day later, on Saturday, November 21, 2026. Elsewhere in India, this same Ekadashi marks the end of Chaturmas, the four-month pause on weddings and other major ceremonies, and the resumption of the wedding season.
Kartik Purnima: A Full Moon With Many Names
November 24, 2026, is a single full moon celebrated under several different names depending on tradition. It’s Kartik Purnima, considered one of the most meritorious days of the year for a holy bath and charity. It’s Guru Nanak Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, observed by Sikhs worldwide with continuous scripture readings and community meals. And in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring regions, it coincides with Karthigai Deepam, when rows of lamps are lit in homes and temples — closely related in spirit to Dev Deepawali, observed the same evening along the ghats of Varanasi.
A Correction: Makaravilakku Is Not in November
Some calendars circulating online this year list Makaravilakku, the famous lamp-lighting event at Sabarimala, as falling in November. This is incorrect — Makaravilakku is tied to Makara Sankranti and always falls in mid-January, at the very end of the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season that begins this month. If you’re looking for the Makaravilakku date, it belongs in January’s calendar, not November’s.
A Clarification: Thiruvathira’s Big Festival Is in December
You may also see Thiruvathira, Kerala’s well-known women’s circle dance festival, listed in early November on some calendars. The moon does pass through the Thiruvathira (Ardra) Nakshatra roughly once a month, including briefly in early November, but the major annual Thiruvathira festival — the one associated with the Thiruvathira Kali dance and married women’s observances — falls in Dhanu month this year, on December 24, 2026. Treat any early-November date as a minor monthly Nakshatra day rather than the main festival.
Ahoi Ashtami, Pradosham and Sankashti Chaturthi
Ahoi Ashtami, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, is a North Indian fast where mothers pray for their children’s health and longevity, observed on the Ashtami Tithi of Kartik Krishna Paksha. While it’s less commonly observed in Kerala, it’s included here for households with North Indian ties or connections.
The month also carries two Pradosham Vratams — November 6 in the Krishna Paksha and November 22 in the Shukla Paksha, close to Kartik Purnima — both evening fasts dedicated to Lord Shiva, best observed during Pradosh Kaal, roughly the 90 minutes around sunset. Sankashti Chaturthi, the monthly fast for Lord Ganesha, falls on November 27, broken traditionally after moonrise.
Looking Ahead: December Brings Thiruvathira and Mandala Pooja
With Mandala Kalam underway, Kerala’s pilgrimage season builds through the rest of the year. December brings the main Thiruvathira festival on the 24th, followed swiftly by Mandala Pooja, the culmination of the 41-day Sabarimala season, before the shorter Makaravilakku season opens in mid-January. It’s worth bookmarking next month’s calendar to plan around both occasions.
Reading the Calendar Beyond Festival Names
A Panchang or Malayalam Calendar isn’t only useful for major festivals — it also guides everyday decisions such as which day suits starting a business, buying gold, or beginning a journey. Each date carries its own Nakshatram and auspicious time blocks (Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam), and reading these together gives a fuller picture than the festival name alone. If you’re using a printed calendar, check the timings specific to your own city, since sunrise and sunset shift meaningfully across Kerala’s length.
November 2026 at a Glance
- Ahoi Ashtami: November 1
- Pradosham Vratam (Krishna Paksha): November 6
- Vrischikam Sankranti: November 16
- Mandala Kalam begins: November 17
- Guruvayur Ekadashi (Smarta): November 20
- Guruvayur Ekadashi (Vaishnava): November 21
- Pradosham Vratam (Shukla Paksha): November 22
- Kartik Purnima & Guru Nanak Jayanti: November 24
- Sankashti Chaturthi: November 27
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Mandala Kalam start in 2026? Mandala Kalam begins on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, the first day of Vrischikam month, and runs for 41 days at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple.
Is Makaravilakku in November 2026? No. Makaravilakku is tied to Makara Sankranti and falls in mid-January, at the close of the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, not in November.
When is the Thiruvathira festival in 2026? The main Thiruvathira festival falls on December 24, 2026, in Dhanu month. A minor monthly Thiruvathira Nakshatra day also occurs in early November, but it isn’t the major annual celebration.
When is Guruvayur Ekadashi in 2026? Guruvayur Ekadashi, also known as Dev Uthani Ekadashi elsewhere in India, is observed on November 20 (Smarta tradition) or November 21 (Vaishnava tradition), 2026.
When is Kartik Purnima in 2026? Kartik Purnima falls on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, and is also observed as Guru Nanak Jayanti and Karthigai Deepam.
When does Vrischikam month start in 2026? Vrischikam Sankranti falls on Monday, November 16, 2026, marking the sun’s entry into Vrischikam and the start of the month.
Can I download the Malayalam Calendar 2026 November PDF for free? Yes. The PDF version of this calendar, with the same festival, Sankranti, and Vrat dates, can be downloaded free of cost from the link on this page, with no login required.
Conclusion
Malayalam Calendar 2026 November opens Kerala’s most spiritually significant season, moving from Ahoi Ashtami and Vrischikam Sankranti into the start of Mandala Kalam, the dual observance of Guruvayur Ekadashi, and a Kartik Purnima celebrated under several names at once. This Malayalam Calendar 2026 November gives households a complete, corrected, date-wise reference to plan around as the pilgrimage season builds toward December.