Tirumala Pournami Garuda Seva Dates 2026: Complete Schedule & Guide

The next Tirumala Pournami Garuda Seva is on 29 July 2026 (Wednesday), the Ashadha Pournami — which this year is also Guru Purnima. On that evening, priests carry the processional deity Sri Malayappa Swamy on the golden Garuda Vahanam around the four Mada streets. This route encircles the Sri Venkateswara temple, and the procession runs roughly between 7 PM and 9 PM.

In addition, viewing is completely free. The procession moves through open streets, so you need no ticket or booking of any kind to watch it.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) announced the full Pournami Garuda Seva calendar for 2026 at the start of the year. TTD confirmed seven sevas: 1 May, 31 May, 29 June, 29 July, 28 August, 26 September and 26 October 2026. However, it cancelled the November and December full-moon sevas because major festivals fall on those days.

Finally, we have cross-checked every date below against panchangam sources and TTD announcements.

Tirumala Pournami Garuda Seva 2026: Remaining Dates (July to December)

Four Pournami Garuda Sevas remain in 2026. Meanwhile, the May and June sevas — 1 May 2026 (Friday), 31 May 2026 (Sunday) and 29 June 2026 (Monday) — have already taken place.

A note on the panchangam: the Pournami tithi often spans two calendar days. For example, in August 2026 the tithi begins on the morning of 27 August and ends on the morning of 28 August. Yet TTD has announced the seva for 28 August 2026.

Therefore, the dates above follow TTD’s announced calendar, which is what matters for the procession. If you are travelling a long distance, confirm the date on the official TTD calendar or TTD’s announcements a few days before your visit.

What Is Pournami Garuda Seva?

Pournami Garuda Seva is a monthly procession of Sri Malayappa Swamy, the utsava (processional) form of Lord Venkateswara. Priests seat the deity on the Garuda Vahanam and take him around the four Mada streets. These streets form a square around the main temple.

Garuda, the divine eagle and vehicle of Lord Vishnu, is the most revered of all the temple’s vahanams. Therefore, devotees hold that seeing the Lord on Garuda even once is among the most meritorious darshans at Tirumala.

The monthly seva recreates, in a smaller setting, the single most attended event of the annual Brahmotsavam. However, it happens every full moon rather than once a year. As a result, pilgrims who cannot plan around the big festivals get a regular chance to witness the same spectacle — with far more manageable crowds.

Vedic tradition considers Pournami the most spiritually charged phase of the lunar month. That is why TTD chose full-moon evenings for this seva. Moreover, the golden Garuda Vahanam moving through lamp-lit streets under a full moon is one of Tirumala’s most memorable sights.

Timings and Procession Route

TTD typically conducts the procession between 7 PM and 9 PM, after the evening rituals inside the temple conclude. However, the exact start time can shift a little depending on the day’s temple schedule. Therefore, it is sensible to be in position well before 7 PM.

The route covers the four Mada streets in a full circuit:

• First, the procession emerges from the temple and enters the East Mada street.
• It then turns along the South Mada street, past the Swami Pushkarini side of the complex.
• Next, the circuit continues along the West Mada street.
• Finally, the last stretch runs along the North Mada street before the deity returns to the temple.

The full circuit usually takes one to two hours. The corners where the vahanam turns are popular viewing points. The procession slows there, so you get a longer darshan.

In addition, the stretch near the Dhwajasthambham side and the area around Bedi Anjaneya Swamy temple are well-regarded spots.

Free Street Viewing: No Ticket Needed

There is no ticket, no booking and no payment for watching Pournami Garuda Seva. TTD conducts the procession in the open Mada streets, and anyone present in Tirumala that evening can watch it. Moreover, galleries and street-side spaces along the route are open to all pilgrims on a first-come basis.

Do note that street viewing of the procession is separate from darshan inside the temple. Temple darshan follows its own queues and, for Special Entry Darshan, its own online booking through TTD’s official portal.

Many pilgrims complete darshan during the day and then watch the Garuda Seva in the evening. As a result, the two combine naturally into a single day’s visit.

How to Plan a Pournami Visit

Pournami days draw noticeably larger crowds than ordinary weekdays, since many devotees time their monthly visit to the full moon. A few practical points:

• Arrive early for a viewing spot. Reach the Mada streets 60 to 90 minutes before the procession. When a Pournami falls on a weekend — as on Saturday, 26 September 2026 — expect the biggest crowds of the season. Therefore, add extra buffer.
• Check the crowd position before you travel. Compartment waits for free Sarva Darshan lengthen on full-moon days. Our live Tirumala darshan status page tracks current queue levels. As a result, you can decide whether to go for free darshan or book Special Entry Darshan for that date.
• Book accommodation ahead. TTD rooms in Tirumala fill quickly for Pournami weekends. Online booking through the official TTD portal opens well in advance. Meanwhile, Tirupati-side accommodation (Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam) is the fallback if Tirumala rooms are gone.
• Dress traditionally. The usual Tirumala dress code applies. Men should wear traditional clothing such as a dhoti or kurta-pyjama. Similarly, women should wear a saree, half-saree or churidar. This matters especially if you also plan temple darshan.
• Keep the evening free. The procession, waiting time and post-seva crowd dispersal together occupy roughly three to four hours.

Brahmotsavam Garuda Seva 2026: The Grand Version

The monthly Pournami seva has a much larger sibling. During each Brahmotsavam, Garuda Seva on the fifth night is the single biggest event of the Tirumala calendar. It draws lakhs of devotees.

Moreover, in 2026 there are two Brahmotsavams because of the Adhika Masa:

• Salakatla Brahmotsavam Garuda Seva: 19 September 2026 (Saturday)
• Navaratri Brahmotsavam Garuda Seva: 16 October 2026 (Friday)

On those two nights the deity wears celebrated jewels brought out specially for Garuda Seva. In addition, crowd controls are at their strictest. If you want the grandest version of this darshan and can handle very large crowds, plan for those dates.

However, if you prefer the same darshan in a calmer setting, a monthly Pournami evening is the better choice. See our Tirumala Brahmotsavam 2026 day-by-day schedule for the full vahanam list of both festivals.

Why the November and December 2026 Sevas Are Cancelled

TTD has cancelled the last two full-moon sevas of 2026 because major observances take precedence:

• 24 November 2026 (Tuesday): TTD observes Karthika Deepotsavam, the festival of lamps of the Karthika month, instead. During this festival, thousands of oil lamps light up the temple and its surroundings.
• 24 December 2026 (Thursday): The Adhyayanotsavam, the annual recitation festival of the Divya Prabandham hymns of the Alvars, is under way. Therefore, TTD does not hold the regular Pournami procession.

Pilgrims visiting on those dates still witness significant temple events — just not the Garuda Vahanam procession. However, if Garuda Seva specifically is the goal, 26 October 2026 is the last opportunity of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Tirumala Pournami Garuda Seva dates for 2026?

TTD confirmed seven dates for 2026: 1 May, 31 May, 29 June, 29 July, 28 August, 26 September and 26 October 2026. The remaining dates from July onwards are 29 July 2026 (Wednesday), 28 August 2026 (Friday), 26 September 2026 (Saturday) and 26 October 2026 (Monday). However, TTD has cancelled the sevas of 24 November 2026 and 24 December 2026.

Do I need a ticket to watch Pournami Garuda Seva?

No. The procession takes place in the open Mada streets, and viewing is free for everyone. You need no booking, token or payment. However, darshan inside the temple follows the usual queue and booking systems.

What time does the Pournami Garuda Seva procession start?

TTD generally conducts the procession between 7 PM and 9 PM, starting after the evening temple rituals. However, exact timing can vary slightly by day. Therefore, arrive at the Mada streets by about 6 PM to secure a comfortable viewing spot.

Why are the November and December 2026 Pournami Garuda Sevas cancelled?

TTD cancelled the 24 November 2026 seva for Karthika Deepotsavam. Similarly, it cancelled the 24 December 2026 seva for the Adhyayanotsavam recitation festival. Both are major observances that take precedence over the monthly procession.

How is Pournami Garuda Seva different from the Brahmotsavam Garuda Seva?

The ritual is the same — Sri Malayappa Swamy on the Garuda Vahanam circling the Mada streets — but the scale differs enormously. The Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevas on 19 September 2026 and 16 October 2026 draw lakhs of devotees, with special jewels and heavy crowd controls. In contrast, a monthly Pournami seva offers the same darshan with far smaller crowds.

Is Tirumala more crowded on Pournami days?

Yes, moderately. Full-moon days attract more pilgrims than normal weekdays, and darshan queues run longer — though nowhere near Brahmotsavam levels. Therefore, check the live darshan status before travelling. For weekend Pournamis, also book accommodation and Special Entry Darshan well in advance.

Sources and disclaimer: Dates are compiled from TTD’s announced 2026 Pournami Garuda Seva schedule and cross-verified against independent panchangam calendars (Drik Panchang, Prokerala). Tirumala Tirupati Online is an independent pilgrim-information website and is not affiliated with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. For official confirmation, rely on TTD’s own channels: tirumala.org, news.tirumala.org and ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in.

Last updated: 8 July 2026.

Last reviewed: July 9, 2026