Lunar Eclipse 2026: Temples close in New Delhi, Kanpur, Madurai as sutak kaal begins; early rush at Meenakshi Amman Temple

As the sutak kaal inauspicious period of the lunar eclipse began on Tuesday March 3 morning temples across several cities including New Delhi Kanpur and Madurai remained closed in view of the celestial event that is set to be the first of the year after it last appeared in September 2025It also coincides with the Indian festival of Holi being celebrated across the countryDevotees in Madurai offer prayersAt the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai devotees gathered in large numbers in the early hours to offer prayers before the temple doors were shutWATCH Kanpur UP Temples to remain closed today during the Sutak Kaal inauspicious period of the lunar eclipseVisuals from Nageshwar Shiva Temple pictwittercom2A5nGfrU9Bmdash ANI ANI March 3 2026A devotee Gopalakrishnan who was celebrating his 60th birthday shared his experience of visiting the temple early in the morning He said that since the temple authorities had announced a morning closure due to the lunar eclipse he and his family arrived early to offer prayers After completing the darshan he expressed happiness and satisfaction at being able to mark his special day at the templeMadurai Tamil Nadu Devotee Gopalakrishnan says Today is my 60th birthday so we came to the temple Since it was announced that the temple would be closed in the morning due to the lunar eclipse we came early and had darshan I feel very satisfied and happy pictwittercomAivF0xgxNhmdash ANI ANI March 3 2026Today is my 60th birthday so we came to the temple Since it was announced that the temple would be closed in the morning due to the lunar eclipse we came early and had darshan I feel very satisfied and happy said GopalakrishnanWATCH Ranchi Jharkhand The gates of Shri Ram temple closed as the Sutak Kaal inauspicious period begins today ahead of the Lunar Eclipse pictwittercomNjYsgnRM69mdash ANI ANI March 3 2026Valarmathi another devotee outside the same temple mentioned that her family also visited early in the day because of the announced closure She noted that the temple witnessed a heavy rush of devotees in the morning as many people had gathered to complete their darshan before the doors were shutWATCH Madurai Tamil Nadu Temples to remain closed today during the Sutak Kaal inauspicious period of the lunar eclipseVisuals from Meenakshi Amman Temple pictwittercomU9k8As0LI2mdash ANI ANI March 3 2026Due to the lunar eclipse it was announced that the temple would be closed in the morning So we came early today with our family and completed the darshan As the temple was to be closed in the morning there was a heavy crowd said ValarmathiDevotion in KanpurMeanwhile a temple priest in Kanpur said this was the first lunar eclipse of the year and that temple doors were closed after the Mangala Aarti He added that the doors are scheduled to reopen at 7 pm followed by ritual bathing and adornment of the deity After the Bhog Aarti the temple will remain open for devotees until 11 pmWATCH Kanpur UP Temple priest says This is the first lunar eclipse of the year All doors of the temples have been closed after Mangala Aarti At 700 pm all doors will be opened baths will be given and adornments will be performed After Bhog Aarti the doors willhellip pictwittercomdQSG9iF3pkmdash ANI ANI March 3 2026This is the first lunar eclipse of the year All doors of the temples have been closed after Mangala Aarti At 7 pm all doors will be opened baths will be given and adornments will be performed After Bhog Aarti the doors will remain open until 11 pm said the priestAll you need to know about the Lunar EclipseAccording to the India Meteorological Department IMD a total lunar eclipse will take place on Tuesday March 3 across several time zonesThe phenomenon occurs when the entire Moon passes through the Earths umbral shadow A partial lunar eclipse in contrast takes place when only a part of the Moon moves into the Earths shadowIn a post on X the IMD stated that the total lunar eclipse on March 3 will have a magnitude of 1155 The eclipse will be visible across India as well as in parts of Eastern Asia Australia and the AmericasIn the Indian context the visibility of the eclipse will vary by region Most places in the country will observe the ending phase of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise However in parts of NorthEast India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands the end of the totality phase will also be visibleAccording to Indian Standard Time IST the celestial event will follow a specific schedule throughout the afternoon and evening The eclipse is slated to begin at 1520 320 pm with the totality phase starting at 1634 434 pm The Moon will remain completely within the Earths shadow until totality ends at 1733 533 pm and the entire eclipse cycle will officially conclude at 1848 648 pmWith inputs from ANI