📅 Malayalam Calendar May 2026 - Complete Guide with Festivals & Nakshathram
Welcome to the comprehensive Malayalam Calendar for May 2026 (മേയ് 2026 മലയാളം കലണ്ടർ), your ultimate resource for all festivals, holidays, nakshathram, thithi, and auspicious dates in the Malayalam month system. May 2026 spans two important Malayalam months: Medam (മേടം) from May 1-14 and Idavam (ഇടവം) from May 15-31, marking the transition from spring to the beginning of the monsoon season in Kerala.
🌟 Key Features of May 2026 Malayalam Calendar
This Malayalam calendar for May 2026 provides accurate information for planning your religious ceremonies, auspicious events (muhurtham), and daily activities according to traditional Kerala Panchangam. The calendar includes:
- Complete Nakshathram information for every day of May 2026, essential for astrological calculations and ritual timing
- All major festivals and holidays including Buddha Purnima, Mother's Day, Idavam Sankranti, and Ekadashi dates
- Malayalam dates (Kollam Era 1201) alongside English dates for easy reference and planning
- Thithi details including Amavasya (New Moon) and Pournami (Full Moon) dates for religious observances
- Public holidays marked clearly for school and office planning in Kerala
- Muhurtham guidance for weddings, housewarming, vehicle purchase, and other important ceremonies
- Responsive design optimized for viewing on mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers
- Free PDF download available for both monthly and full year 2026 Malayalam calendar
🎊 Major Festivals in May 2026
1. തൊഴിലാളി ദിനം (Labour Day / May Day) - May 1, 2026
Labour Day on May 1st is a public holiday in Kerala and across India, celebrating the contributions and achievements of workers. In Kerala, this day is marked by public meetings, rallies, and cultural programs organized by trade unions. The day coincides with the Malayalam date Medam 18 and falls on Ashwati nakshathram. This year, May Day also coincides with Buddha Purnima, making it doubly significant for celebrations and observances.
2. ബുദ്ധ പൂർണിമ (Buddha Purnima) - May 1, 2026
Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death (Mahaparinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. Falling on the full moon day of Medam (May 1, 2026), this sacred day is observed with meditation, prayer, and acts of kindness. Buddhist temples in Kerala, particularly in areas with Buddhist heritage, hold special ceremonies and distribute food to the poor. The nakshathram is Ashwati, considered highly auspicious for spiritual practices and new beginnings.
3. മദേഴ്സ് ഡേ (Mother's Day) - May 10, 2026
Mother's Day 2026 falls on Sunday, May 10th, on the Malayalam date Medam 27 with Avittam nakshathram. This is a day to honor and celebrate mothers, expressing gratitude for their unconditional love, sacrifice, and care. In Kerala, families come together to spend quality time with mothers, presenting gifts, flowers, and preparing special meals. Churches and community centers organize special programs recognizing maternal contributions to society. Traditional gifts include sarees, jewelry, and handmade cards, while many families prepare their mother's favorite dishes.
4. അപര ഏകാദശി (Apara Ekadashi) - May 11, 2026
Apara Ekadashi on May 11th (Medam 28, Chathayam nakshathram) is an important Vaishnava fasting day observed during the waxing phase of the moon. Devotees fast and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, seeking forgiveness for sins and spiritual purification. The word "Apara" means "one that has no limit," signifying the unlimited blessings this Ekadashi brings. Temples dedicated to Vishnu hold special abhishekams and bhajans throughout the day. According to tradition, observing this fast helps remove past sins, brings prosperity, and ensures peace in family life. Devotees break their fast the next morning after sunrise with simple sattvic food.
5. ഇടവം സംക്രാന്തി (Idavam Sankranti) - May 15, 2026
Idavam Sankranti marks the beginning of the Malayalam month Idavam on May 15th. This astronomical event signifies the sun's transition into the zodiac sign of Taurus (Edavam Rashi). Sankranti days are considered highly auspicious for spiritual practices, charity, and taking ritual baths in holy rivers. In Kerala, traditional rituals are performed at temples, and special prayers are offered for agricultural prosperity as this month traditionally heralds the monsoon season. The nakshathram on this day is Ashwati, making it doubly auspicious. Many families visit temples early morning, perform special poojas, and distribute food to the needy.
6. അമാവാസി (Amavasya) - May 16, 2026
Amavasya (New Moon Day) on May 16th (Idavam 2, Bharani nakshathram) is significant for ancestral worship and rituals. Known as Vavu Bali in Kerala, this day is dedicated to performing tarpan (ritual offerings) for deceased ancestors. Many Keralites visit beaches, especially at Varkala Papanasam Beach, to perform these rituals. The belief is that offering prayers and tarpan on Amavasya ensures peace for departed souls and brings blessings to the family. The day is also observed as a bank holiday in some regions. People typically avoid starting new ventures or auspicious ceremonies on Amavasya.
7. ബുദ്ധ പൗർണമി (Buddha Pournami) - May 26, 2026
Buddha Pournami on May 26th (Idavam 12, Attham nakshathram) is another full moon celebration associated with Lord Buddha's teachings. This day commemorates Buddha's first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Sarnath, where he taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Devotees engage in meditation, read Buddhist scriptures, and practice dana (generosity) by helping those in need. Buddhist centers organize special programs, including group meditation sessions, dharma talks, and vegetarian food distribution.
8. മോഹിനി ഏകാദശി (Mohini Ekadashi) - May 27, 2026
Mohini Ekadashi falls on May 27th (Idavam 13, Chitira nakshathram) during the waxing fortnight of the month. This Ekadashi is named after Lord Vishnu's Mohini avatar, the enchanting female form he took during the churning of the cosmic ocean. Observing a fast on this day is believed to cleanse past sins and bring spiritual merit. Devotees visit Vishnu temples, recite Vishnu Sahasranamam, and maintain a day-long fast, breaking it only the next morning after sunrise. The fast is observed by abstaining from grains, pulses, and non-vegetarian food, while fruits, milk, and water are permitted.
📖 Understanding Malayalam Calendar System
The Kollam Era (കൊല്ലവർഷം)
May 2026 corresponds to Kollam Era 1201. The Kollam Era, also known as Malayalam Era, is the solar calendar system used in Kerala. It began in 825 CE and is still widely used for religious and cultural events. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Malayalam calendar is lunisolar, meaning it considers both the sun's and moon's positions. The Kollam Era was established by King Rajashekhara Varman to commemorate the foundation of the city of Kollam (Quilon) and has been the traditional calendar system of Kerala for over 1,200 years.
Malayalam Months in May 2026
Medam (മേടം): May 1-14, 2026 corresponds to Medam 18-31. Medam is the first month of the Malayalam calendar, beginning with Vishu (Malayalam New Year). This month represents new beginnings, harvest celebrations, and spring festivals. The name Medam comes from the zodiac sign Aries (Mesha Rashi). Traditionally, this is a time of abundance when mango trees are laden with fruit and paddy fields are ready for harvest.
Idavam (ഇടവം): May 15-31, 2026 corresponds to Idavam 1-17. Idavam is the second Malayalam month, traditionally associated with the beginning of the monsoon season in Kerala. This is an important agricultural period when farmers prepare fields for paddy cultivation. The month's name derives from the Edavam Rashi (Taurus zodiac sign). During Idavam, the pre-monsoon showers begin, bringing relief from the summer heat and rejuvenating the land.
Nakshathram Significance
Each day in the Malayalam calendar is associated with one of the 27 Nakshatrams (നക്ഷത്രങ്ങൾ) or lunar mansions. Nakshathram plays a crucial role in:
- Birth star determination: A person's nakshathram is determined by the moon's position at their time of birth and remains their birth star throughout life
- Muhurtham selection: Choosing auspicious times for weddings, ceremonies, and important life events based on favorable nakshathram combinations
- Compatibility matching: Assessing marriage compatibility through nakshathram porutham (star matching), which evaluates 10 different compatibility factors
- Religious observances: Performing specific rituals on one's birth star day each month, believed to bring good fortune and remove obstacles
- Agricultural planning: Traditional farming communities time planting and harvesting based on nakshathram, following centuries-old wisdom
- Medical treatments: Ayurvedic practitioners consider nakshathram when prescribing treatments and starting medication regimens
🌙 Thithi and Lunar Phases in May 2026
New Moon (Amavasya): May 16, 2026 - A spiritually significant day for ancestral worship and new beginnings. This dark moon phase is ideal for introspection and releasing old patterns.
Full Moon (Pournami): May 1 and May 26, 2026 - Days of heightened spiritual energy, ideal for meditation, prayer, and temple visits. The full moon enhances mental clarity and emotional balance.
The lunar phases influence various aspects of life according to traditional beliefs:
- Waxing Moon (Shukla Paksha): May 1-15 and May 17-31 - Favorable for growth-oriented activities, new projects, positive ventures, and expansion in business or personal life
- Waning Moon (Krishna Paksha): May 2-16 - Suitable for completion, letting go, introspective practices, and finishing pending projects
- Ekadashi days: May 11 and 27 - Special fasting days occurring on the 11th day of both lunar phases, dedicated to spiritual purification
📱 How to Use This Malayalam Calendar
For Daily Reference
- Check your daily nakshathram to plan auspicious activities and avoid inauspicious timings
- Identify festival dates to prepare for celebrations, rituals, and family gatherings well in advance
- Note Sundays and public holidays for work, school planning, and travel arrangements
- Track Ekadashi dates for fasting observances and spiritual practices
- Monitor lunar phases for meditation, spiritual practices, and agricultural activities
- Plan temple visits on auspicious days for maximum spiritual benefit
For Event Planning
- Wedding planning: Consult with experienced astrologers to select favorable dates based on nakshathram, thithi, and planetary positions of both families
- Housewarming (Griha Pravesh): Choose auspicious days avoiding Amavasya, certain nakshatrams like Bharani and Krittika, and inauspicious planetary transits
- Vehicle purchase: Select favorable dates for buying new vehicles or starting long journeys, ensuring safe travels and prosperity
- Business inauguration: Time business launches with positive planetary positions, avoiding Rahu Kalam and Yamagandam periods
- Upanayanam and naming ceremonies: Traditional ceremonies require careful date selection based on child's nakshathram and family traditions
- Property transactions: Choose auspicious dates for buying land, houses, or signing important legal documents
🌧️ May 2026 - Season and Agricultural Significance
May marks the transition from spring to the pre-monsoon season in Kerala. This is a crucial period for agriculture:
- Pre-monsoon preparations: Farmers prepare paddy fields, repair bunds, clean irrigation channels, and plan crop rotation strategies
- Mango harvest: May is peak mango season in Kerala, with varieties like Muvandan, Neelum, Karutha Colomban, and Alphonso reaching full ripeness
- Cashew harvest: Cashew nuts mature during this period, especially in northern Kerala districts like Kasaragod and Kannur
- Summer crops: Vegetables like gourds, pumpkins, bitter gourd, and leafy greens are harvested before the monsoon rains begin
- Livestock care: Special attention to cattle hydration, shade provision, and disease prevention as temperatures rise before monsoon
- Spice cultivation: Pepper vines are tended, cardamom plants are mulched, and preparations made for post-monsoon spice harvest
- Coconut tapping: Toddy tappers continue their work, and coconut harvesting continues throughout the month
✨ Auspicious Activities in May 2026
Highly Favorable Dates
- May 1 (Buddha Purnima): Meditation, spiritual practices, charity, temple visits, and starting new spiritual disciplines
- May 5-7: Good for starting new ventures, signing important documents, making investments, and launching business initiatives
- May 11 (Apara Ekadashi): Fasting, prayers, seeking spiritual merit, and performing religious ceremonies
- May 15 (Idavam Sankranti): Temple visits, charity, ritual baths in holy rivers, and new beginnings in any field
- May 18-20: Favorable for property transactions, construction work, major purchases, and financial investments
- May 27 (Mohini Ekadashi): Spiritual practices, fasting, Vishnu worship, and seeking divine blessings
- May 22-23: Good for educational pursuits, starting courses, and academic initiatives
Days to Avoid Major Activities
- May 16 (Amavasya): Avoid starting new ventures, marriages, housewarming ceremonies, or vehicle purchases
- Sundays (3, 10, 17, 24, 31): Generally avoided for auspicious ceremonies in traditional practice, though good for spiritual activities
- Rahu Kalam periods: Check daily Rahu Kalam timings (varies by day) and avoid starting important tasks during these periods
- During eclipses: If any solar or lunar eclipses occur (check astronomical calendars), avoid major activities 3 hours before and after
🏛️ Temple Visits and Rituals in May 2026
May offers several opportunities for temple visits and religious observances:
- Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple: Visit on Ekadashi days (May 11, 27) for special darshan, offer tulsi garlands, and participate in special sevas
- Sabarimala: Although the main pilgrimage season is over, monthly poojas continue for devotees, particularly on first days of Malayalam months
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram: Ideal for Vishnu worship on Pournami and Ekadashi, famous for its reclining Vishnu idol
- Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur: Visit for Shiva worship, especially on favorable nakshatrams, known for its ancient murals and architecture
- Attukal Bhagavathy Temple: Important for Devi worship, seeking maternal blessings, and performing special poojas for family welfare
- Chottanikkara Devi Temple: Famous for mental health healing, visit during favorable nakshatrams for special blessings
- Mannarsala Nagaraja Temple: Important for serpent worship, especially for couples seeking children and family prosperity
💡 Traditional Kerala Practices for May
Health and Wellness
According to Ayurveda, May (Greeshma Ritu - summer season) requires specific health practices:
- Consume cooling foods like cucumber, watermelon, ash gourd, buttermilk, and fresh coconut water to balance internal heat
- Avoid excessive spicy, salty, fried foods, and fermented items that increase body heat and pitta dosha
- Apply cooling oils like coconut oil, neem oil, or chandanadi thailam for body massage before bath
- Wake early before sunrise (Brahma Muhurta) and avoid midday sun exposure between 11 AM - 3 PM
- Practice calming yoga asanas, pranayama (especially Sheetali and Sheetkari), and meditation for mental coolness
- Stay well-hydrated with plenty of water, tender coconut water, nannari sherbet, and herbal drinks like coriander water
- Take afternoon naps to conserve energy, wear light cotton clothes in white or light colors
- Apply sandalwood paste on forehead and body for cooling effect
Traditional Food
Kerala's traditional May recipes include:
- Mango Pachadi: Sweet and sour mango chutney made with ripe mangoes, jaggery, and ginger
- Neer Moru: Spiced buttermilk with curry leaves, ginger, and green chilies for cooling effect
- Parippu Curry: Light dal curry with coconut, turmeric, and minimal spices
- Vendakka Thoran: Okra stir-fry with grated coconut, mustard seeds, and curry leaves
- Sambharam: Traditional buttermilk drink with ginger, curry leaves, and asafoetida
- Mambazha Pulissery: Ripe mango curry with coconut milk and mild spices
- Elavazhayil Aviyel: Mixed vegetables cooked in coconut and curd, wrapped in banana leaf
- Pazham Pori: Ripe banana fritters, a popular evening snack with tea
📥 Download Malayalam Calendar May 2026 PDF
Why Download Our PDF Calendar?
- Full Year 2026 Malayalam Calendar PDF - Complete 12-month calendar with all festivals, holidays, and nakshathram information for easy year-round planning
- Individual Monthly PDF - Individual month calendar for May 2026, optimized for printing on standard A4 or Letter size paper
- High-resolution print-ready format with crystal-clear Malayalam fonts (Noto Sans Malayalam) for excellent readability
- Comprehensive inclusion of all festivals, holidays, nakshathram, thithi, and auspicious dates
- Completely free to download, print, and share with family, friends, and community members
- Compatible with all devices and PDF readers (Adobe Reader, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Offline access - no internet required once downloaded, perfect for areas with limited connectivity
- Print multiple copies for home, office, and gifts to elderly relatives
🔗 Additional Resources
Explore more Malayalam calendar resources on our website:
- Complete Malayalam Calendar 2026 with all 12 months in detailed format with festivals and celebrations
- Individual monthly calendars: January, February, March, April, June through December 2026 with specific month details
- Festival guide with detailed information about Kerala celebrations, rituals, significance, and traditional observances
- Nakshathram guide with characteristics, ruling deities, personality traits, and significance of each of the 27 stars
- Muhurtham calculator for auspicious time selection for various ceremonies including weddings, housewarming, and naming
- Daily Panchangam with detailed astrological information including tithi, nakshathram, yoga, and karana for each day
- Rashi Phalam (horoscope predictions) based on Malayalam calendar system and Vedic astrology principles
- Traditional Kerala recipes for festival preparation, sadya menu planning, and seasonal cooking guides
- Cultural insights into Kerala's rich heritage, traditions, art forms, and festivals
- Ayurvedic seasonal guides for health and wellness throughout the year
- Malayalam learning resources for those interested in learning the language and script
Stay tuned to our website for more updates, festival guides, traditional recipes, cultural insights, and authentic Malayalam calendar resources. May this Malayalam Calendar May 2026 bring prosperity, health, happiness, and divine blessings to your life! 🙏
മേയ് 2026 നിങ്ങൾക്ക് ഐശ്വര്യവും സമൃദ്ധിയും നൽകട്ടെ!
May 2026 bring you prosperity and abundance!
