2023 Chingam 1 • Beginning of Kolla Varsham & Malayalam New Year

Kolla Varsham is the Malayalam calendar. Kolla varsham is a sidereal solar calendar and is the traditional calendar followed by the people of Kerala. The current year 2023 is Kolla varsham 1198-1199 and a quick reverse calculation will place the origin of Kolla varsham era to 824 AD (~August 15, 824 AD).

Chingam is the first month of Malayalam calendar and thus Chingam 1 marks the New year on Kolla varsham.

2023 Chingam 01 falls on August 17, Thursday

Kolla varsham 1199 starts on Chingam 01, 2023

Image Source: IANS

Chingam 01 is a major festival especially for the farming community of Kerala

Unlike other Indian lunar and luni-solar calendars which sets Mesha rashi as the new year, Kolla varsham calendar starts with Simha rasi (Chingam rashi). Being a solar calendar, Kolla varsham months are determined based on the transit of Sun from on rasi to another. Thus between Simha (Chingam) rasi and Karka (Karkidakam) rasi, the 12 months of kolla varsham are distinctly divided.

For the people of Kerala, the month of Chingam marks the end of a very difficult Karkidakam month - the peak of monsoon season. Chingam 1 is an eagerly awaited day as the month brings along harvest season and also the much awaited Onam festival season. Special poojas and prayers are held at all temples in the state on this day. More than a hindu religious festival, Chingam 1 is a day of celebration for the farming community and everyone, irrespective of religious believes, celebrates the arrival of harvest season.