Margazhi 2026 begins on Wednesday, 16 December 2026 and ends on Thursday, 14 January 2027, the day before Thai Pongal. It is the Dhanur month, Perumal's own month, and the one month in the Tamil year when the pooja moves to before dawn. Homes draw large kolams at the gate, temples sing the Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai from 4 am, and no weddings or house-warmings are held.
For a pooja shop it is the month when kolam powder, lamp oil and camphor sell by the kilo. This guide lists what a family uses through the month and the two big days inside it: Thiruvathirai on 24 December and Vaikunta Ekadasi on 20 December.
1. The Margazhi routine at home
- Before sunrise, around 4:30–5:30 am: bath, then the gate is washed and the kolam drawn with kolam powder, finished with a pumpkin flower or a dab of kumkum in the centre.
- The lamp: lit with sesame oil or ghee and cotton wicks before the Perumal or family deity.
- The pasuram of the day: one Thiruppavai verse (Andal) and one Thiruvempavai verse (Manikkavasagar), 30 verses for 30 days. Many families play the recording while the pooja is done.
- Naivedyam: ven pongal or sakkarai pongal on most days, with cardamom, cashews and raisins.
- Evening: a second lamp, incense and sambrani; bhajan groups visit the streets in many towns.
2. Kolam: what you need for 30 days
- Kolam powder: a large kolam at the gate uses 100–200 g a day, so plan 3–5 kg for the month
- Rice flour for the traditional wet kolam (maakolam) on special days
- Kumkum or turmeric for the centre and borders
- Cow dung for the traditional base, and pumpkin flowers from the market
3. Special days inside Margazhi
| Day | Date | What is done |
|---|---|---|
| Vaikunta Ekadasi | Sun 20 Dec 2026 | Fast, Sorgavasal darshan. See the Vaikunta Ekadasi guide |
| Thiruvathirai (Arudra Darshan) | Thu 24 Dec 2026 | Nataraja darshan, thiruvathirai kali. See the Thiruvathirai guide |
| Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala | Sun 27 Dec 2026 | End of the 41-day Ayyappa vratham. See the Sabarimala guide |
| Hanumath Jayanthi (Margazhi Amavasai) | Check your panchangam | Vadai maalai to Anjaneyar |
| Bhogi | Thu 14 Jan 2027 | Last day of Margazhi; old things burnt at dawn |
4. Margazhi month items list
| Item | Monthly quantity (one lamp, one kolam a day) | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Kolam powder | 3–5 kg | Kolam powder |
| Sesame oil | 1–2 litres | Sesame oil |
| Cotton wicks | 2 packets | Lamp wicks |
| Camphor | 100 g | Villai soodam |
| Incense | 2–3 packets | Pathi |
| Sambrani cups | 1 box | Cup sambrani |
| Kumkum and turmeric | 100 g each | Kumkum, turmeric powder |
| Vibhuti and sandal | 100 g each | Vibhuti, sandalwood powder |
| Pongal ingredients | as needed | Cardamom, cashews, raisins, jaggery |
5. Margazhi checklist
- Kolam powder for the month, rice flour for maakolam
- Lamp oil, wicks, camphor
- Incense and sambrani for the evening pooja
- Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai book or recording
- Pongal ingredients for naivedyam
- Items for Vaikunta Ekadasi (20 Dec) and Thiruvathirai (24 Dec)
Stocking up for Margazhi?
Siva Pooja Store, Big Bazaar Street, Dindigul, sells kolam powder, lamp oil and camphor in bulk packs through the month. Order at sivapoojastore.com, WhatsApp 91507 87862, or ask for wholesale rates for bhajan groups and temples.
Common questions
When does Margazhi 2026 start and end? Wednesday 16 December 2026 to Thursday 14 January 2027.
Why are weddings not held in Margazhi? The month is set aside for worship, with the pooja moved to the early hours; auspicious family functions are kept for Thai, which begins on 15 January.
What is the difference between Thiruppavai and Thiruvempavai? Thiruppavai is Andal's 30 verses to Perumal; Thiruvempavai is Manikkavasagar's 20 verses to Sivan. Both are sung one verse a day through the month.
How much kolam powder do I need? A medium gate kolam uses about 100 g a day; large street kolams for the Margazhi competitions use much more. 3–5 kg covers a normal home for the month.