Girivalam · Full-moon walk

Girivalam January 2027: Thai Pournami date & time

When is Girivalam in January 2027? Thai Pournami falls on Thursday, 21 January 2027: the full-moon window opens at 9:31 PM that day and closes at 5:48 PM on Friday 22 January (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, January 2027

Girivalam on a full moon follows the Purnima tithi, not the clock. For Thai 2027 the tithi begins at 9:31 PM on Thursday 21 January and ends at 5:48 PM on Friday 22 January (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 opens late, at 9:31 PM on Thursday 21 January. Most pilgrims wait until it begins and then walk through the night, so the usual 7–10 PM start is not available this month; plan to set off once it has opened. It does not close until 5:48 PM on Friday 22 January, so there is no practical deadline: you can walk the night or the following day. 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 January

January nights are among the most comfortable of the year for walking: cool, usually dry, and kind to bare feet. Carry a light layer for the small hours. 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 Thai Pournami means

Thai is the month of new beginnings and thanksgiving in Tamil Nadu, following the Pongal harvest, and Thai Poosam is observed around its full moon. The mood is abundance and fresh starts.

This is a good full moon for a first Girivalam: the weather helps and the crowd is ordinary rather than extraordinary.

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.