Purattasi Month 2026: Start, End Dates, Saturdays & Tamil Calendar

📖 11 min read · 2,061 words

Purattasi Month 2026 falls across mid-September and mid-October, with five Purattasi Saturdays on 19 and 26 September, then 3, 10 and 17 October. Most Chennai-based Thiruganita calendars mark Purattasi 1 on 17 September and the final day on 17 October, although some traditional calendar publishers start the month on 18 September. That one-day difference is a calendar convention, not a reason to shift the Saturday vratam dates.

Prayanamam is an independent pilgrimage and culture guide. We are not affiliated with any temple, trust, panchangam publisher or government body, and we do not accept bookings, donations or payments.

This guide uses multiple Tamil calendar sources because 2026 has a genuine start-date discrepancy. It also preserves the old 2022 date for readers who reached this long-standing URL while updating the page for the current year.

Purattasi Month 2026 at a Glance

• Common Chennai/Thiruganita start: Thursday, 17 September 2026.
• Alternate published start: Friday, 18 September 2026.
• End date: Saturday, 17 October 2026.
• Purattasi Sani dates: 19 September, 26 September, 3 October, 10 October and 17 October.
• Mahalaya Amavasya: Saturday, 10 October 2026.
• Navaratri begins: Sunday, 11 October 2026 in the panchangam sources checked for this guide.
• Best practice: follow the panchangam used by your family or temple when a ritual depends on the exact Tamil date.

If you are moving through the Tamil months in order, Prayanamam’s Avani Masam 2026 guide covers the previous month. That page is useful because the Avani-to-Purattasi boundary is exactly where calendar publishers differ in 2026.

Purattasi Month 2026 Start and End Dates

The safest answer is that Purattasi Month 2026 ends on 17 October 2026, while published calendars differ by one day on the start. Prokerala, Drik Panchang and several Chennai-oriented daily calendars label 17 September as Purattasi 1. Other established publishers label 18 September as Purattasi 1 and count a 30-day month.

This difference comes from the way a solar transition is assigned to a civil day. A Tamil solar month begins around the Sun’s entry into the next zodiac sign, yet calendar traditions can apply different sunrise or sankranti cut-offs. Therefore, a one-day mismatch between printed almanacs can occur even when both are using a legitimate system.

For a household vratam, the practical rule is simple. Use one panchangam consistently rather than mixing day numbers from one source with tithi timings from another. If your temple announces Purattasi observances separately, the temple’s own calendar should guide that temple visit.

Why Do Some 2026 Calendars Show 17 September and Others 18 September?

Two groups of reputable calendar publishers disagree on the first numbered day of Purattasi in 2026. Drik Panchang, Prokerala and several Chennai daily calendars show 17 September as Purattasi 1. Other Tamil calendar sites show 18 September as the first day.

The disagreement does not change the important Saturday sequence. All five Saturdays fall clearly within the month under both systems, so devotees can mark the same dates. It also does not change the transition to Aippasi: the sources checked agree that Aippasi begins on 18 October.

This is an important correction to the old version of this page. A date guide should not hide a real panchangam difference by presenting one convention as universal. When a ritual depends on a Tamil date number, check the local temple calendar or the panchangam your family already follows.

Purattasi Month 2026 Saturday Dates

Purattasi Month 2026 contains five Saturdays, commonly called Purattasi Sani or Purattasi Sanikizhamai. In many Vaishnava families, these days receive special attention for worship of Lord Vishnu, especially Lord Venkateswara. The observance is devotional tradition, so family customs can differ.

The fourth Saturday, 10 October, also coincides with Mahalaya Amavasya in the calendar sources checked. The fifth Saturday falls on the last day of Purattasi under both start-date conventions. Because these overlaps can increase temple crowds, check a temple’s official notice before making a long trip.

What Is Purattasi and Why Is It Important?

Purattasi is the sixth month of the Tamil solar calendar and usually spans part of September and October. It is closely associated with worship of Lord Vishnu in Tamil tradition. Saturdays receive special emphasis, while many families also choose a vegetarian diet and a simpler devotional routine through the month.

The religious meaning belongs to tradition and faith rather than to a scientific claim. Devotees may recite Vishnu Sahasranamam, chant the names of Govinda, light lamps, prepare a simple offering or visit a Perumal temple. However, no single ritual format is compulsory for every Tamil household.

Tirumala also sees strong Tamil pilgrim interest during Purattasi. If you plan a visit, use the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams official website for current darshan schedules, pilgrim notices and official services. Do not rely on private agents or unofficial payment links.

How to Observe Purattasi Sani at Home

A simple home observance can be meaningful because the focus is devotion, discipline and prayer. Family customs differ, so this outline is a practical framework rather than a universal rule. If your household follows a priest or traditional panchangam, keep that practice.

1. Begin with a clean prayer space. Bathe as usual, tidy the puja area and place flowers or tulasi if available.
2. Offer a simple prayer to Lord Vishnu. You may chant Govinda namam, Vishnu Sahasranamam or another prayer used in your family.
3. Light a lamp safely. Keep it on a stable surface and away from curtains, children and pets.
4. Prepare a vegetarian offering. Many homes offer rice, fruit, sweet pongal or another familiar prasadam before the family meal.
5. Give food or help where possible. Charity is a common part of Purattasi practice, although the form can be simple and local.

Some families prepare maavilakku, a traditional rice-flour and jaggery lamp, on a chosen Purattasi Saturday. Others reserve that practice for a particular family day. Therefore, it is better to follow inherited custom than to treat an internet checklist as a fixed religious rule.

Purattasi Fasting: What Is Traditional and What Is Safe?

Fasting during Purattasi is optional and varies widely. Some devotees avoid only non-vegetarian food, while others keep a partial or full fast on Saturdays. There is no single health rule that applies to everyone, and spiritual practice should not override medical needs.

If you have diabetes, kidney disease, are pregnant, take regular medicines or have another condition affected by food intake, speak with a qualified doctor before fasting. Children and older adults also need extra care. Hydration and medication schedules matter more than following a strict internet version of a vratam.

The old article suggested that a fruit-based fast could be beneficial for health. That claim has been removed because the health effect depends on the person. A safer approach is to frame fasting as a devotional choice and adapt it to health, family practice and professional advice.

Important Dates During Purattasi Month 2026

Several major observances fall within Purattasi Month 2026. The dates below were cross-checked across multiple panchangam listings, although local temple schedules may use different ritual times. For city-specific tithi start and end times, use a location-aware panchangam.

Do not assume every Navaratri-related festival falls inside Purattasi. Aippasi begins on 18 October in the calendars checked, so later Ayudha Puja and Vijayadasami observances fall after the solar month changes. That distinction prevents a common mistake in year-specific festival lists.

Does Purattasi Have Fixed Daily Puja Timings?

No single daily clock time applies across Purattasi Month 2026. Panchangam timings depend on date and location because sunrise, sunset, tithi and nakshatra change. Temple opening times also vary by shrine, festival day and crowd-control plan.

For home worship, families usually follow their customary morning or evening prayer time. If you need tithi, nakshatra, Rahu Kalam or Nalla Neram for a specific date, use a city-specific panchangam rather than copying one month’s generic timing. A Chennai timetable should not be treated as exact for Singapore, Colombo or another location.

Likewise, check the official temple website before travelling. Festival Saturdays can draw larger crowds, so a normal weekday darshan schedule may not describe the actual waiting experience on Purattasi Sani.

Common Purattasi Planning Mistakes

• Assuming one start date is universal. In 2026, reputable sources show both 17 and 18 September as Purattasi 1.
• Mixing calendar systems. Use one panchangam for Tamil day numbers and tithi timings instead of combining sources.
• Treating fasting as mandatory. Family practice varies, and health needs can require a modified or no-fast approach.
• Using unofficial booking links. Temple tickets, accommodation and donations should go through the temple’s official portal only.
• Ignoring crowd conditions. Purattasi Saturdays can be busier at popular Vishnu temples, so confirm local arrangements before travel.

Another mistake is carrying an old year’s date forward. Purattasi is a solar month, but the Gregorian start can still vary around the September transition. Therefore, every annual refresh should recalculate the month instead of changing only the year in the headline.

Looking for Purattasi 2022 Dates?

The original version of this URL was written for 2022, so the historical answer remains useful. Purattasi in 2022 was commonly listed from 18 September to 17 October. That produced four Purattasi Saturdays: 24 September, 1 October, 8 October and 15 October.

This section stays because old search results and bookmarks can still bring readers here for the 2022 calendar. The rest of the page now answers the current 2026 intent. Keeping the historical note avoids throwing away useful context while preventing the entire article from looking four years out of date.

If you are comparing later Hindu calendar observances, the site’s Karthika Pournami 2026 guide explains how leap-month shifts can move lunar festivals much more dramatically than solar Tamil months.

Purattasi Month 2026: Best Way to Use This Calendar

Use Purattasi Month 2026 as a planning range, then verify the exact Tamil day with the panchangam followed by your family or temple. Mark all five Saturdays now because those dates are stable across the source conventions checked. For temple travel, confirm opening hours and special notices on the official temple website.

The key date issue in 2026 is not the Saturdays. It is whether your calendar numbers 17 September or 18 September as Purattasi 1. Once you know which convention your family follows, the rest of the month becomes straightforward.

Purattasi Month 2026 FAQs

When does Purattasi Month 2026 start?

Many Chennai-based Thiruganita calendars mark Thursday, 17 September 2026 as Purattasi 1. Some other established Tamil calendar publishers start the month on Friday, 18 September. Follow the panchangam used by your family or temple when the exact Tamil date number matters.

When does Purattasi Month 2026 end?

Purattasi Month 2026 ends on Saturday, 17 October 2026 in the calendar sources checked for this refresh. Aippasi begins on Sunday, 18 October. The end date is consistent even though publishers differ by one day on the start.

What are the Purattasi Sani dates in 2026?

The five Purattasi Saturdays are 19 September, 26 September, 3 October, 10 October and 17 October 2026. These dates remain the same under both start-date conventions. The final Saturday also falls on the last day of Purattasi.

Why is Purattasi important for Lord Venkateswara devotees?

Tamil Vaishnava tradition gives special importance to Lord Vishnu worship during Purattasi, particularly on Saturdays. Many devotees pray to Lord Venkateswara, keep a vegetarian diet or observe a family vratam. These are devotional traditions, so practices differ between households and temples.

Is fasting compulsory during Purattasi?

No. Fasting is a personal or family religious practice, not a universal requirement. Some people avoid only non-vegetarian food, while others fast on Saturdays. Anyone with a medical condition, pregnancy, regular medication or special nutrition needs should seek medical advice before restricting food.

Can I visit Tirumala during Purattasi?

Yes, but popular Purattasi periods can attract strong pilgrim demand. Check the official Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams website for current darshan, seva and crowd-related notices before travel. Never pay a private contact that claims guaranteed darshan or special access.

Is Navaratri inside Purattasi in 2026?

Navaratri begins on 11 October 2026 in the panchangam sources checked, so its opening days fall within Purattasi. The Tamil solar month then ends on 17 October. Later Navaratri-related observances continue after Aippasi begins on 18 October.

What were the Purattasi dates in 2022?

Purattasi 2022 was commonly listed from 18 September to 17 October. The four Saturdays were 24 September, 1 October, 8 October and 15 October. This historical note remains on the refreshed page because the original URL and older searches still reference 2022.