Dhanurmasam 2026: Dates (16 December to Makar Sankranti), Tiruppavai Schedule, Andal and Vaikuntha Ekadashi

Quick answer: Dhanurmasam 2026 begins on Wednesday 16 December 2026, when the Sun enters Dhanu rashi (calculated: Dhanu Sankranti in the morning of 16 December, India time). It ends at Makar Sankranti: the sankranti moment is calculated for the night of Thursday 14 January 2027, so Makar Sankranti and Pongal are usually observed on Friday 15 January 2027 (confirm on Drik Panchang). During the month, Vaishnava homes and temples recite one pasuram of Andal's Tiruppavai each day before dawn, starting on 16 December. Vaikuntha Ekadashi falls on Sunday 20 December 2026.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. All dates below are calculated by HinduTone's panchang calculator, which we have checked against Drik Panchang to within a minute or two. Please confirm them for your city.

Dhanurmasam 2026 dates

Source: HinduTone calculator, validated against Drik Panchang. Because the Makar Sankranti moment falls after sunset on 14 January, the festival is usually kept the next day. We do not list muhurat clock times. Outside India, check Drik Panchang or your temple calendar for your city.

What is Dhanurmasam?

Dhanurmasam (Dhanur Masa) is the solar month when the Sun travels through Dhanu (Sagittarius). It covers roughly mid-December to mid-January and overlaps with the Tamil month of Margazhi. In the Bhagavad Gita (10.35) Krishna says that among months he is Margashirsha, and this season is regarded as especially sacred for worship of Vishnu.

Tradition holds that one human year equals one day of the gods, and that Dhanurmasam is the time just before their dawn. That is why the month is known for worship in the early hours before sunrise, in the Brahma muhurta. Temples open early, and homes wake to the sound of Tiruppavai and the smell of fresh pongal.

Andal and the Tiruppavai

Andal is the only woman among the twelve Alvars, the Tamil poet-saints of Vishnu. As commonly told, she was found as a baby under a tulsi plant in Srivilliputhur by Periyalvar (Vishnuchitta), who raised her as his daughter. She grew up longing to marry the Lord himself, and tradition says she was finally united with Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam.

Her Tiruppavai is a garland of 30 Tamil verses (pasurams) and is part of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. In it, Andal imagines herself as a cowherd girl of Gokul who wakes her friends in the Margazhi dawn, and together they go to Krishna's door to ask for his grace. The first pasuram opens with the famous words:

"Margazhi thingal mathi niraindha nannalal"

Meaning, in short: 'In the month of Margazhi, on this day of the full moon...'. The opening line sets the whole poem in this month, which is why Tiruppavai is sung every Dhanurmasam.

Tiruppavai schedule for Dhanurmasam 2026

The common practice is to recite one pasuram a day, in order, so that all 30 are completed by the end of the month. Taking 16 December 2026 as Day 1:

Some temples and families count the days differently, or recite all 30 pasurams daily with the day's verse given special attention. If your temple publishes its own Tiruppavai calendar, follow that.

Daily worship in Dhanurmasam

• Wake before dawn: Bathe early and light a lamp before sunrise.
• Kolam: Draw a kolam or muggu at the entrance. Many South Indian homes make larger, more elaborate designs this month.
• Recite: Recite the day's Tiruppavai pasuram, or listen to it, and offer flowers and tulsi to Vishnu or Krishna.
• Naivedya: Offer pongal (ven pongal or chakkara pongal) as the early-morning naivedya, as is traditional.
• Visit a temple: Many Vishnu temples hold early-morning Dhanurmasa pujas. Check your temple's website for timings.

For a family-friendly, step-by-step routine, see our guide to Dhanurmasam daily rituals linked below.

Tiruppavai at Tirumala

At Tirumala, it is widely known that the Suprabhatam is replaced by the recitation of Tiruppavai during Dhanurmasa. This is one of the most distinctive customs of the month. For seva details and any changes in arrangements, check the TTD's official website; we do not list timings.

Key days: Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Koodaravalli and Bhogi

Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Sunday 20 December 2026, calculated): The Shukla Ekadashi in Dhanurmasam is Vaikuntha or Mukkoti Ekadashi. Vishnu temples open the Vaikuntha Dwaram (northern gate), and devotees fast and keep vigil. In 2026 the same day is Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi.

Koodaravalli (January): The day of the 27th pasuram, 'Koodarai vellum seer Govinda', is celebrated with a rich sweet pongal made with milk, rice and ghee. Check your temple's calendar for the day it observes.

Bhogi (January): Bhogi is the day before Makar Sankranti and marks the close of Dhanurmasam in many homes. In Telugu and Tamil homes it is marked with a bonfire of old things (Bhogi mantalu), and many temples celebrate Andal's divine wedding (Goda Kalyanam) around this time. Check your local panchang for the date.

For NRI families

• Check local dates: Use Drik Panchang or your temple calendar. Do not convert India's times.
• A short daily practice: Even five minutes before work, a lamp and one pasuram, keeps the month alive.
• Kids' Tiruppavai: Children can learn one pasuram a week. Many temples abroad run Tiruppavai classes or group recitations in this month.
• Temples abroad: Check your temple's own website for Dhanurmasa pujas and Vaikuntha Ekadashi arrangements.

Frequently asked questions

When does Dhanurmasam 2026 start and end?

Dhanurmasam 2026 begins on Wednesday 16 December 2026, when the Sun enters Dhanu (Sagittarius). It ends at Makar Sankranti. HinduTone calculates the Makar Sankranti moment for the night of Thursday 14 January 2027 (India time); because it falls after sunset, Makar Sankranti and Thai Pongal are usually observed on Friday 15 January 2027. Please confirm on Drik Panchang.

Which Tiruppavai pasuram is recited on which day?

The usual practice is one pasuram a day, in order. Taking 16 December as Day 1, pasurams 1 to 16 fall from 16 to 31 December, and pasurams 17 to 30 from 1 to 14 January 2027. Some temples and families follow their own count, so check with your temple.

Is Tiruppavai recited instead of Suprabhatam at Tirumala?

Yes. It is widely known that during Dhanurmasa, Tiruppavai is recited at Tirumala in place of the Suprabhatam each morning. For current seva details, check the TTD's official website.

When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi in Dhanurmasam 2026?

Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadashi is on Sunday 20 December 2026 (calculated). It is the Shukla Ekadashi that falls within Dhanurmasam, and the same day is Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi.

What is Koodaravalli?

Koodaravalli is the day the 27th pasuram, which begins 'Koodarai vellum seer Govinda', is recited. Many families and temples celebrate it with a rich sweet pongal (akkara adisil). Check your temple's calendar for the day it is observed.

Is the start date the same outside India?

The sankranti is one moment worldwide, but the local date and the rule for which day counts can differ. Check Drik Panchang or your temple calendar for your city; do not convert India's times.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The dates are calculated by HinduTone's panchang calculator and checked against Drik Panchang; please confirm them for your city. Day-by-day Tiruppavai dates are counted from 16 December; temples may follow their own count. We have not given dates for Koodaravalli or Bhogi, or any muhurat clock times or temple timings. Andal's story is presented as commonly told.

Related guides

• Dhanurmasam daily rituals: step-by-step guide
• Tiruppavai 30 pasurams with Telugu meanings
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 date (India)
• Margazhi 2026: Tamil month festivals
• Gita Jayanti 2026
• Tirumala Venkateswara Temple