Many temples in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other southern states are set to remain closed on October 28 due to the lunar eclipse in the wee hours of Sunday (October 29). The authorities of temples like Kanaka Durga, Srisailam and Annavaram have issued orders in Andhra Pradesh based on the directions from the endowment department. The partial lunar eclipse is likely to occur in the wee hours of October 29 but temples will be closed eight hours before the eclipse as per agama rules.
The authorities of Kanaka Durga temple said that the temple will be closed due to Agama Shastra from 6:30 PM on Saturday. The temple will then be reopened at 3:00 AM on Sunday after "Pradosha Kala", reported Times of India.
MV Rangarajan, chief priest of Chilkur Balaji temple said, the temple will close on October 28 at 5:30 PM since it is a custom to close the temple eight hours before the eclipse. The temple will be reopened the next day after purification rituals.
The lunar eclipse will begin at 1:05 AM on October 29 and end at around 2:24 AM on Sunday. In India, a clear view of the eclipse will be witnessed from 1:05 AM.
A lunar eclipse is a phenomenon in the skies where the Earth moves precisely between the Sun and the Moon, resulting in the Earth's shadow falling upon the Moon's surface. It's crucial to understand that lunar eclipses exclusively take place during a full moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon form a straight alignment, with the Earth positioned in the center.
This particular lunar eclipse is expected to be observable across the Eastern Hemisphere, encompassing regions in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The lunar eclipses can be viewed with normal eyes. This time, the lunar eclipse is to take place just 14 days after the solar eclipse on October 29, 2023.