Which Malayalam Month Is This? How to Find Today’s Date

If you are asking yourself “which Malayalam month is this,” you are not alone. The Malayalam calendar, also called the Kollavarsham, follows a solar cycle that does not line up perfectly with the Gregorian calendar most of us use daily. That mismatch causes a lot of confusion, especially for people living outside Kerala who want to keep track of festivals like Onam or Vishu.

This guide will clear that up. You will learn exactly how the Malayalam month system works, how to figure out the current month at any time, and why these months matter for agriculture, astrology, and cultural events.

⚡Quick Answer: The current Malayalam month depends on the date. The Kollavarsham year begins with Chingam in mid-August. If today is between mid-March and mid-April, the month is Meenam. If it is between mid-April and mid-May, it is Medam. You can check a Malayalam calendar or panchangam for the exact day.

What Is the Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham)?

The Malayalam calendar has a different starting point than the Gregorian calendar. It begins in 825 CE, which marks the founding of Kollam, an ancient port city in Kerala. That is why the calendar is called Kollavarsham, meaning the era of Kollam.

Unlike the lunar calendars used in North India, the Malayalam calendar is a solar calendar. That means the months are based on the movement of the sun through the zodiac signs, not the phases of the moon. The sun takes roughly 30 to 31 days to pass through each rashi, or zodiac sign, and that transit defines a Malayalam month.

The year starts with Chingam, which falls around August 17 in the Gregorian calendar. From there, the months proceed in a fixed order through the twelve zodiac signs, ending with Karkidakam in July and August.

The Twelve Malayalam Months in Order

Here is the complete list, along with the approximate Gregorian dates each month covers:

Malayalam Month	Approximate Gregorian Period	Key Festival or Significance
Chingam	August 17 to September 16	Onam, harvest season begins
Kanni	September 17 to October 16	Navaratri
Thulam	October 17 to November 15	Monsoon retreat
Vrischikam	November 16 to December 15	Sabarimala season opens
Dhanu	December 16 to January 13	Sabarimala pilgrimage peak
Makaram	January 14 to February 12	Makaravilakku
Kumbham	February 13 to March 13	Shivaratri
Meenam	March 14 to April 13	Vishu preparations
Medam	April 14 to May 14	Vishu, Malayalam New Year
Edavam	May 15 to June 14	Monsoon onset
Midhunam	June 15 to July 15	Heavy monsoon
Karkidakam	July 16 to August 16	Ramayana month, lean season

The exact start date of each month shifts slightly each year because the solar year is about 365.25 days long. That quarter day adds up, so the calendar adjusts with periodic corrections.

💡Pro Tip: Instead of memorizing the dates, bookmark a reliable online Malayalam calendar or download a panchangam app. Most will show both the Gregorian date and the corresponding Malayalam month side by side, so you never have to guess.

How to Determine Which Malayalam Month Is This Right Now

The simplest way to answer “which Malayalam month is this” is to look at today’s Gregorian date and match it against the table above. But that gives you only an approximation. If you need the exact month, especially near the boundaries when one month transitions to the next, you need a more precise method.

Method 1: Use a Panchangam or Malayalam Calendar App

The most reliable approach is to consult a panchangam, the traditional Hindu almanac. These are printed annually in Kerala and are also available as apps. A panchangam tells you the exact tithi, nakshatra, and Malayalam month for any given day.

Popular apps include Malayalam Calendar 2025 and Kollavarsham Calendar, both available on Android and iOS. They update daily and remove all guesswork.

Method 2: Calculate from the Sun’s Position

Since the Malayalam calendar is solar, the month changes when the sun enters a new zodiac sign. For example:

• Medam begins when the sun enters Aries (Mesha rashi), around April 14
• Chingam begins when the sun enters Leo (Simha rashi), around August 17
• Vrischikam begins when the sun enters Scorpio (Vrischika rashi), around November 16

If you know the sun’s current zodiac position, you know the Malayalam month. Most astrology apps and websites display this information.

Method 3: Check a Malayalam Newspaper or News Website

Major Malayalam newspapers like Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi print the current Malayalam date on their front pages every day. Their websites also display it prominently. This is a quick, reliable way to check without doing any calculations.

💡Pro Tip: If you need the Malayalam month for an official purpose, like filling out a horoscope or planning a religious ceremony, always verify with a panchangam rather than relying on the approximate Gregorian date ranges. The transition between months happens at a specific time of day, not at midnight.

Why the Malayalam Month Matters for Festivals and Agriculture

The Malayalam calendar is not just a way to mark time. It is deeply connected to Kerala’s agricultural cycle, festival calendar, and daily life. Understanding which month you are in tells you a lot about what is happening in the region.

The Agricultural Connection

Kerala has two main growing seasons tied to the monsoons. The Edavam and Midhunam months (May to July) bring the southwest monsoon, which irrigates the first paddy crop. Farmers plant during Karkidakam and harvest in Chingam and Kanni.

The northeast monsoon arrives in Thulam and Vrischikam (October to December), supporting the second crop. If you hear a farmer in Kerala talking about seasonal work, they will often refer to the Malayalam month rather than the Gregorian one.

Festival Timing

Most major Kerala festivals are fixed to specific Malayalam months:

• Onam falls in Chingam, typically late August or early September
• Vishu marks the first day of Medam, around April 14
• Thiruvathira is celebrated in Dhanu, usually December or January
• Makaravilakku at Sabarimala happens in Makaram, around January 14

If you are planning to attend or celebrate any of these, knowing the Malayalam month helps you confirm the exact date.

Astrological Significance

Malayalam astrology, or Jyotisham, relies heavily on the solar months. Each month corresponds to a zodiac sign, and a person’s birth star and sign are calculated based on the sun’s position during the Malayalam month of their birth. Horoscopes, marriage compatibility checks, and muhurtham (auspicious time) calculations all use this system.

Key Takeaways

• The Malayalam calendar, or Kollavarsham, starts in 825 CE and follows the solar cycle
• The year begins with Chingam in mid-August and ends with Karkidakam in mid-July
• Each Malayalam month corresponds to the sun’s transit through a zodiac sign
• You can find the current Malayalam month using a panchangam, a calendar app, or a Malayalam newspaper
• The months are tied to Kerala’s monsoon seasons, harvest cycles, and major festivals like Onam and Vishu

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which Malayalam month is this right now?
A: The answer depends on today’s date. If it is between mid-August and mid-September, the month is Chingam. Between mid-April and mid-May, it is Medam. Check a Malayalam calendar or panchangam for the exact current month.

Q: What is the first month of the Malayalam calendar?
A: The first month is Chingam, which begins around August 17 each year. The Malayalam New Year, however, is celebrated on the first day of Medam in April as Vishu.

Q: How many months are there in the Malayalam calendar?
A: There are 12 months in the Malayalam calendar, each corresponding to a solar zodiac sign and lasting approximately 30 to 31 days.

Q: Is the Malayalam calendar lunar or solar?
A: The Malayalam calendar is a solar calendar. The months are determined by the sun’s movement through the zodiac signs, not by the phases of the moon.

Q: What is the difference between Chingam and Medam?
A: Chingam is the first month of the Kollavarsham year and marks the start of the harvest season in August. Medam is the ninth month, beginning in April, and is celebrated as Vishu, the Malayalam New Year.

Q: Why does the Malayalam month change date every year?
A: The Malayalam calendar follows the solar year, which is about 365.25 days long. The extra quarter day causes the start date of each month to shift slightly from year to year.

Q: Which Malayalam month is Onam celebrated in?
A: Onam is celebrated in the month of Chingam, which falls between mid-August and mid-September. The main Onam day, Thiruvonam, usually occurs in late August or early September.

Q: How do I convert a Gregorian date to a Malayalam month?
A: Use a panchangam or a Malayalam calendar app. Enter the Gregorian date, and the app will show the corresponding Malayalam month, along with the tithi and nakshatra.

References & Further Reading

• Kollavarsham Calendar Explained , Wikipedia
• Malayalam Calendar and Panchangam , Prokerala
• Kerala Festivals and Their Dates , Kerala Tourism

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About This Article

This guide was written based on research into the Kollavarsham calendar system, traditional panchangam sources, and publicly available astronomical data on solar transits. The Gregorian date ranges provided are approximate and may vary by one or two days depending on the year. For precise dates, always consult a current-year panchangam or a trusted Malayalam calendar app.