Chandra Grahan 2021: Super Blood Moon To Be Seen On May 26 After First Lunar Eclipse; Know About Timings, Places, Sutak Period

Chandra Grahan 2021 in India: The totally eclipsed moon will appear reddish in colour, hence the name Blood Moon. Know when and where will the Lunar eclipse appear in India along with beliefs related to the Sutak period.

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Chandra Grahan 2021 in India: The first lunar eclipse of the year 2021 is going to take place on May 26. Coincidentally, on this day, devotees will also observe Vaisakh Purnima and Budh Purnima.

In fact, a rare Super Blood Moon will be seen in the eastern sky on May 26, just after a total the Lunar Eclipse which will be visible in many countries of the world. However, in India, the lunar eclipse will be visible from only some places. 

When will the lunar eclipse take place?

The first lunar eclipse of the year will take place on May 26, Wednesday. The lunar eclipse will begin at 2:17 PM IST and will end at 07:19 PM in the evening, lasting for a total of 5 hours. The lunar eclipse will be visible from only a few places in India.

"On the night of May 26, the sun, earth and moon will be aligned in a way that the Full Moon will also be eclipsed for some time as viewed from Kolkata. The moon on its journey around the earth will be passing through the earth's shadow and will be totally eclipsed," said astrophysicist and Director of MP Birla Planetarium, Debiprasad Duari. 

Where will the lunar eclipse be visible? Will Blood moon be seen in India?

The first lunar eclipse of the year will be seen from most parts of East Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North and South America, and Australia. Since the moon will be below the eastern horizon, people in India will not be able to see the Blood Moon. Only the very last part of the Lunar Eclipse will be visible here, that too from some parts of eastern India. This lunar eclipse will be visible partially for a few minutes in Kolkata.  

A Full Moon is called a supermoon when it is closest to the Earth in its orbit. The totally eclipsed moon will appear reddish in colour, hence the name Blood Moon. "The eclipsed moon is dimly illuminated by red-orange light leftover from all of the sunsets and sunrises occurring around the world at that time" NASA explains.

Astrological Beliefs About Sutak Period

According to the Astrological beliefs, a Sutak period starts 9 hours before the lunar eclipse. Auspicious works are not to be done in this period. The doors of the temple are closed. During this time, no food is served. Going out of the house is also considered inauspicious. According to astrological practices, people should take bath at the end of the Sutak period before resuming work.

During the Sutak period, it is advisable to take special care of pregnant women and children. People involved in astrology claim that the Moon is affected at the time of the eclipse, adding that there is a strong thunderstorm and other acitivity on the Moon. Therefore, it is advised not to do auspicious tasks during this time.

Furthermore, it is believed that rules pertaining to Sutak are followed only when a full lunar eclipse occurs. Auspicious works can be done during a penumbral lunar eclipse, and the temples also remain open. However, pregnant women are advised to be careful.