Lunar Eclipse 2023: Temples in India that will remain closed on Sharad Purnima

The last Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahan) of 2023 will take place on October 28-29 (Saturday-Sunday). This will be a partial lunar eclipse when the Earth will come in between the Full Moon and the Sun.

This year the Lunar Eclipse is set to coincide with the Hindu festival of Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagari Purnima or Kaumudi Purnima, which typically falls on the full moon day in the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin.

At midnight, the eclipse will be visible to people in India. The duration of the eclipse will be 1 hour and 19 minutes. At 1:05 am it will start and will end at 2:24 am.  The sutak kaal will begin at 4:13 pm on Saturday.

Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan: After 3:25 pm on October 28, an aarti will be conducted, followed by the temple’s closure at 3:30 pm. Devotees will have to wait until the next day, Sunday, October 29, to see Banke Bihari ji under normal circumstances.

Tirumala Temple, Tirupati: The Tirumala Temple in Andhra Pradesh will also be closed due to the evening eclipse on October 28. No visitors will be allowed after 7 pm.

Mahakal Temple, Ujjain: During the sutak kal will begin at 4:13 pm on Saturday. During this time, devotees can view the deity from outside. On October 29 at 4 am, the temple doors will be opened for Bhasma Aarti  when it will be washed and cleaned.

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi: There is a tradition in Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple of closing the doors of the temple 2 hours before the eclipse period.

All the holy places are closed during the time of Grahan except the Srikalahasti temple in Andhra Pradesh. It is the only temple in India that offers puja and prayers to Rahu and Ketu.