Why Tirupati Temple Will Remain Shut For Over 10 Hours on March 3

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Tirupati temple of Lord Venkateswara will remain closed for the devotees on March 3 for over 10 hours. The temple will remain closed from 9 am to 7:30 pm due to the lunar eclipse falling just a day before Holi, PTI reported, citing the temple administration.

When Will The Temple Reopen?

The temple will reopen for devotees after the completion of 'suddhi', the purificatory rites performed to cleanse the temple after the eclipse, with offline darshan resuming at 8.30 pm, according to a press release."The temple will remain closed for over 10 hours and will reopen for devotees after the completion of purificatory rituals," it added.

How Long Will The Lunar Eclipse Be?

The lunar eclipse is expected to last nearly three-and-a-half hours, from 3.20 pm to 6.47 pm."TTD said several sevas, including Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana (worship of the Lord's feet with eight-petaled lotus flowers), Kalyanotsavam (celestial wedding ceremony), Unjal Seva (swing ceremony), Arjita Brahmotsavam (ceremonial procession), and Sahasra Deepalankara (lamp illumination ceremony) will be cancelled due to the eclipse."Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has requested devotees to cooperate with the arrangements made in view of the lunar eclipse.Also Read: Hyderabad-Based Donor Gifts Blades Worth Rs 1.2 Crore to Tirupati Temple - Here's Why it Matters

Reason Behind Temple Closure on Eclipses

Temples are traditionally closed during eclipses due to long-held religious and spiritual beliefs. In Hindu tradition, eclipses are associated with Rahu and Ketu, celestial entities believed to create periods of inauspiciousness. Because of this, the time is considered unsuitable for routine worship.It is believed that during an eclipse, negative or disruptive energies increase, which can affect the sanctity of temple rituals. To protect the spiritual purity of the deity and the temple space, regular prayers and offerings are paused.Another belief is that the deity is symbolically at rest during the eclipse period. As a mark of respect, temple doors are closed and reopened only after the eclipse ends, and purification rituals are performed.After the eclipse, temples conduct cleansing rituals such as abhishek and snan before resuming worship.