Shubh Kaalam
Shubh Kaalam
Malayalam New Year
Regional Festival
In 12 days on Monday - August 17, 2026
Malayalam New Year
Chingam 1 — The Kollam Era Begins Again
Chingam 1 — the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam
Deity
Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, Bhagavathy
Observance
Celebration
Duration
1 day
Observed
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Lakshadweep
Pooja Muhurat in New Delhi
05:51 AM – 07:30 AM
From sunrise
Dawn — the day begins with the lamp and the temple visit
Best choghadiya within this window
Amrit 05:51 AM – 07:30 AM
Avoid Rahukaal 07:30 AM–09:08 AM
Showing timings for New Delhi (IST), the default city — checking your location for timings that match your own sunrise.
About This Day

Malayalam New Year (Kolla Varsham) celebrated in Kerala when the sun enters Chingam (Leo).

Malayalam New Year is Chingam 1 — the first day of Chingam, the opening month of the Malayalam Kollam Era calendar. It follows Karkidakam, the lean monsoon month known as the month of hardship, and its arrival is felt as relief: the rains ease, the harvest is in prospect, and the season of festivals begins. Chingam 1 is also observed as Karshaka Dinam, Farmers Day, in recognition of the agricultural cycle the calendar tracks. The day is marked by a temple visit at dawn, the vishu-style viewing of auspicious objects in some households, and a sadya — the traditional feast served on a banana leaf. Onam falls within the same month, and Chingam 1 effectively opens the Onam season across Kerala.

Chingam 1KollavarshamMalayalam PuthuvarshamKarshaka Dinam
Regional Names
Kerala
Chingam 1
Karnataka
Chingam Onnu
Tamil Nadu
Malayalam New Year
Vrat Rules

No fast is kept. The day is celebratory and centres on the sadya, the vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf.

Allowed
·all vegetarian festive foods
·sadya
·payasam
Avoided
·non-vegetarian food on this day in most families
·alcohol
Pooja Vidhi , Step by Step
1
Early bath
Bathe before sunrise and wear new clothes — the kasavu mundu and set saree are traditional
2
Light the nilavilakku
Light the traditional brass lamp at the household altar and offer flowers
3
Kani darshan
In households that follow the custom, view the arrangement of rice, fruit, gold and the Krishna image first thing on waking
4
Temple visit
Visit the family temple at dawn and offer flowers, a lamp and a small donation
5
Honour the land
As Karshaka Dinam, farmers offer prayers over their fields and tools
6
Prepare the sadya
Cook the traditional vegetarian feast — avial, thoran, sambar, olan, payasam
7
Family meal
Serve the sadya on a banana leaf in the traditional order and eat together
Step-by-step pooja guidance with mantras.
Mantras
Vishnu Mula Mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya · 108 chants
Salutations to the Supreme Lord Vasudeva
Krishna Mantra
ॐ कृष्णाय नमः
Om Krishnaya Namah · 108 chants
Salutations to Lord Krishna
Deepa Mantra
दीपज्योतिः परब्रह्म दीपज्योतिर्जनार्दनः। दीपो हरतु मे पापं दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते।।
Deepajyotih Parabrahma Deepajyotir Janardanah, Deepo Haratu Me Papam Deepajyotir Namostute · 1 chants
The light of the lamp is the Supreme Brahman, the light of the lamp is Janardana. May this light remove my sins — salutations to the light of the lamp
Pooja Essentials
Pooja Items
Nilavilakku (brass lamp)Coconut oilCotton wicksRiceFruitsKrishna imageBanana leafSandal pasteFlowers
Flowers
JasmineMarigoldThumba flowersHibiscusTulsi
Prasad
PayasamAda pradhamanSadyaBananaCoconutJaggeryUnniyappam
Do
·Bathe before sunrise and wear new clothes
·Light the traditional brass lamp
·Visit the family temple at dawn
·Prepare and share a sadya on a banana leaf
·Begin new ventures and account books on this day
Avoid
·Avoid non-vegetarian food on this day
·Do not begin the day with an argument — the first sight and first words are held to set the year
·Do not let the lamp go out during the morning
·Avoid wasting food from the sadya
·Do not neglect elders on the first day of the year
Remedies
·Light the nilavilakku at dawn and keep it burning through the morning
·Begin new work or a new account book on this day
·Honour farmers and agricultural workers, as the day is also Karshaka Dinam
·Give new clothes or a sadya to a family in need
·Visit the family temple at dawn
Daan (Donations)
New clothesRice and grainCooked sadyaSupport for farmersDonation to a temple
Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, Bhagavathy
Malayalam New Year
Chingam 1 — The Kollam Era Begins Again
#ChingamOnnu#MalayalamNewYear#Kollavarsham#Kerala#KarshakaDinam#DailyPanchang

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