List of temples closed ahead of total lunar eclipse today (2024)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 8, 2022 12:31 IST

Several major temples, including Uttarakhand’s Badrinath Dham, Prayagraj’s Hanuman temple, Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath temple, announced closure ahead of the total lunar eclipse today.

Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee chairman Ajendra Ajay informed that the temple will re-open at 6:25 pm after the eclipse.

Most temples are closed due to the Sutak period associated with a lunar eclipse. The time before the lunar eclipse and solar eclipse is called the Sutak period. The Sutak period during a lunar eclipse starts nine hours before, which means it started at 8:00 am.

During the Chandra Grahan, the full moon will be dimmed to dull red on the day. Lunar eclipses are also called ‘Blood Moons’ because of this phenomenon.

Prayagraj’s Hanuman temple authorities informed that the temple doors would open only at 8:30 pm.

Kashi Vishwanath temple authorities said the temple will be closed from 3:30 pm on Tuesday. After the lunar eclipse, the temple will be opened for general visitors after a Puja at 6.30 pm.

While the Total Lunar Eclipse will be visible in several parts of the world, in India, only the northeastern states will be able to see some parts of it. The totality period of the eclipse will be visible in Itanagar, Guwahati, Siliguri, Kolkata, and Bhubaneshwar. Delhi, Srinagar, Chennai, Gandhinagar, and Mumbai will be able to see a partial eclipse. The Total Lunar Eclipse will begin at 1:32 PM and while the totality will last for 1 hour 25 minutes, the partial phase of the eclipse will stretch for about 3 hours 40 minutes.