Live · Tiruvannamalai time

This week at Arunachala

What the hill is doing today and over the next fortnight: sunrise and sunset, the moon, the next full-moon Girivalam window, and any festival programme. It works itself out from today’s date, so it is always current.

The live panel could not load. See the Pournami calendar and the sacred calendar instead.

The next fourteen days

Sunrise, sunset and the moon are calculated for Tiruvannamalai and are not official figures. Full-moon windows are published Tamil panchang windows checked against the moon’s position (2027 windows are calculated). The Karthigai Deepam programme is from community calendars; the temple’s own notice is the authority.

Plan from here

• Interactive map of Girivalam: every stop on the 14 km road, in order.
• Girivalam walking companion: take the walk round all 41 stops offline.
• What to expect on a Pournami night: the crowds, the timing and the practicalities, with a short film.
• Films of Arunachala: short illustrated films on the hill, the walk and the festivals.

A dated record

Snapshot, 9 November 2026. Karthigai Pournami: opens Monday 23 November 2026, 11:00 PM, closes Tuesday 24 November 2026, 9:00 PM (IST). Karthigai Deepam 2026: the ten-day Brahmotsavam runs from 15 to 24 November 2026; the Maha Deepam is lit on the summit on 24 November at about 6 PM (traditional time, not officially announced). The live panel above is always current; this paragraph is a dated record for readers without JavaScript.

Questions

What is happening at Arunachala this week?

The live panel at the top of this page works it out from today’s date in Tiruvannamalai: sunrise and sunset, the moon, the next full-moon Girivalam window, and any festival programme. Check it before you plan a walk.

How are the sunrise and sunset times worked out?

They are calculated for Tiruvannamalai (about 12.23° N, 79.07° E) with a standard solar formula and shown in Indian Standard Time, accurate to a minute or two. They are not official figures.

When is the next full-moon Girivalam?

The live panel shows the next window, when it opens and closes. As of 9 November 2026 it is the Karthigai Pournami: it opens on Monday 23 November 2026 at 11:00 PM and closes on Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 9:00 PM (IST), the day of the Maha Deepam.

Are the festival dates official?

No. Full-moon windows come from published Tamil panchang windows checked against the moon’s position, and 2027 windows are calculated. The Karthigai Deepam programme comes from community calendars; the temple’s own notice is the authority, so confirm before travelling.