On March 3, there will be a lunar eclipse, visible plainly in eastern India and somewhat in southern regions. Temples throughout South India will modify their darshan (worship viewing) and timings of service during the eclipse in traditional religious practice. As several of the largest pilgrimage centers will halt rituals and darshan for a while, devotees are encouraged to adjust their visits accordingly.
Eclipse Timings
- Start (Sparsha Kala): 3:13 PM
- Midpoint (Madhya Kala): 5:00 PM
- End (Moksha Kala): 6:47 PM
Key Temple Updates
Dharmasthala Manjunath Swamy Temple
- Darshan at: 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Closed: 1:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Reopens: 8:00 PM onwards
Devotees can arrive in the morning but darshan will stay closed during the eclipse period.
Kukke Subramanya Temple
- Service changes: Major rituals like Sarpa Samskara will not be performed on March 2 and 3.
- Darshan is closed: After 9:00 AM on March 3.
- Food: Breakfast available until 9:00 AM, no lunch service.
- Special Mahapuja: Performed at 7:00 PM after the eclipse.
Tirupati Tirumala Temple
- Darshan closed: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Reopens: 8:00 PM onwards
The world-famous temple will be closed for nearly 10 hours, restarting darshan only after the eclipse concludes.
Other Temples
The same restrictions will be applied at Srisailam and Kanipakam temples, where darshan is suspended during eclipse hours and restored in the evening.
Advisory for Devotees
Temple administrations need to let devotees know about these changes, and plan their pilgrimages that way. Guest service and rituals are likely to be affected, visitors need to plan. The modifications reflect longstanding beliefs that temples stay closed when eclipses occur.
A lunar eclipse on March 3 will severely alter temple schedules throughout South India. While darshan will be paused while the eclipse takes place, special pujas will be held afterwards. In order to avoid inconvenience, devotees are encouraged to observe these traditions and organize their trips around their revised times.
