Girivalam · Full-moon walk

Girivalam February 2027: Masi Pournami date & time

When is Girivalam in February 2027? Masi Pournami falls on Saturday, 20 February 2027: the full-moon window opens at 8:01 AM that day and closes at 4:54 AM on Sunday 21 February (IST). Here is when to start, what the weather and crowd will be like, and how to plan the walk.

This Pournami has now passed. See the next full moon Girivalam date & time.

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Girivalam date and time, February 2027

Girivalam on a full moon follows the Purnima tithi, not the clock. For Masi 2027 the tithi begins at 8:01 AM on Saturday 20 February and ends at 4:54 AM on Sunday 21 February (IST). These 2027 times are calculated from the moon’s position, not yet published by the temple, and can differ from a local panchangam by up to about an hour — confirm a week before you travel.

The window is already open by the evening (it began at 8:01 AM on Saturday 20 February), so the usual 7–10 PM start falls comfortably inside it. It closes at 4:54 AM on Sunday 21 February. To finish inside the window at an easy pace of about five hours, set off by about 11:54 PM. The 14 km walk takes most people three to five hours, so there is room to stop at the lingams or the temple. Every other month’s date and time is on the Girivalam dates & timings page.

Weather and what to carry in February

Nights are still cool and pleasant, while days begin to warm, so a night or early-morning walk is the comfortable choice. Carry water; it is dry. Whatever the month, carry a small torch even on a full-moon night, a phone, a little cash for tea and at least a litre of water. Many pilgrims walk barefoot; if you are not used to it, read barefoot or shoes? before you decide.

What Masi Pournami means

Masi Magham and the Masi full moon are held especially sacred for spiritual cleansing and for honouring ancestors; sea and river bathing is traditional across the south. At Arunachala the full moon is felt to amplify the purifying power of the circumambulation.

The window opens in the morning of a Saturday, so expect a weekend crowd that builds through the evening.

Plan the day

If you are travelling in, book your room early; full-moon dates fill up quickly (see where to stay in Tiruvannamalai). Special buses are usually run for Pournami, so look for the transport corporation notices a few days ahead. Eat lightly before you start and keep to the left side of the road with the crowd. On the walk itself, our route in detail shows the way stop by stop, and the Girivalam walking companion takes you round all 41 stops at your own pace; it loads once and works offline, which helps when the mobile network is busy.

First time on a full-moon night? Read what to expect on a Pournami night walk and the complete Girivalam guide.

The 2027 windows are calculated from the moon’s position (IST) and can differ from local panchangams by up to about an hour. Confirm close to the date. Last updated 23 October 2026.