Maha Shivaratri at Tiruvannamalai

Dates

Maha Shivaratri 2027: Saturday 6 March Published calendars agree. The 2028 date (23 February) is calculated and will be confirmed nearer the time.

Maha Shivaratri is observed on the night of Krishna Chaturdashi, the 14th night of the waning moon, in the month before the Tamil month of Panguni. The key time is the night itself, not the calendar day.

What happens at the temple

• Night-long worship. The temple stays open through the night, with poojas at intervals, traditionally in four periods (jamams).
• Lingodbhava pooja. Around midnight, worship is offered to Shiva as Lingodbhava, the lingam of fire from which Shiva emerges. According to the Arunachala tradition, this is the story of Tiruvannamalai itself: Shiva appearing as an endless column of fire before Brahma and Vishnu. See Legends of Arunachala.
• Crowds build from the evening. Allow plenty of time for darshan.

Night Girivalam on Shivaratri

Many pilgrims walk around Arunachala through the night. The advice for night Girivalam applies: walk in company, carry water and a torch, and keep valuables to a minimum. Shivaratri falls near the new moon, so the night is dark. Street lighting covers the main road, but a torch matters more than on a full-moon night.

Planning

• Book accommodation early; see where to stay.
• Check the temple timings page and the official website for any special schedule.
• Combine with Pournami Girivalam if your dates allow. The Maasi full moon falls about two weeks earlier.