Girivalam · Full-moon walk

Girivalam March 2027: Panguni Pournami date & time

When is Girivalam in March 2027? Panguni Pournami falls on Sunday, 21 March 2027: the full-moon window opens at 6:23 PM that day and closes at 4:14 PM on Monday 22 March (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, March 2027

Girivalam on a full moon follows the Purnima tithi, not the clock. For Panguni 2027 the tithi begins at 6:23 PM on Sunday 21 March and ends at 4:14 PM on Monday 22 March (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 at 6:23 PM on Sunday 21 March, just before the usual evening start, so the walk can begin at dusk. It does not close until 4:14 PM on Monday 22 March, 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 March

The heat starts to build in March. The nights are still pleasant, but the tarred road holds the day’s warmth into the evening, so avoid walking barefoot in the early evening and carry at least a litre of water. 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 Panguni Pournami means

Panguni Uthiram, near this full moon, celebrates the divine marriages of the gods, and the month carries a mood of union and completion. It is an auspicious time for blessings on relationships and for wholeness, walked in the gentler warmth before summer sets in.

The window opens on a Sunday evening, so the road will be fuller than on a weekday full moon.

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.