Tirumala Temple to Remain Closed on March 3 Due to Lunar Eclipse

• Tirumala temple closure announced officially
• Lunar eclipse impact on darshan schedule
• TTD cancels arjitha sevas and VIP darshan

Devotees planning a visit to Tirumala on March 3 have been advised to take note of major changes in the temple schedule due to the upcoming lunar eclipse. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has confirmed that the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple will remain closed for several hours as part of traditional religious practice.

According to temple authorities the lunar eclipse will begin at 3.20 pm and conclude at 6.47 pm on March 3. Following long standing customs the temple doors will be shut six hours before the eclipse begins. As a result darshan will be suspended from 9 am onwards and the shrine will remain closed for nearly ten and a half hours.

The temple will reopen at 7.30 pm after completion of purification rituals and punyahavachanam. Devotees will be allowed for darshan again from 8.30 pm on the same day. Officials clarified that these rituals are mandatory to restore sanctity after the eclipse period.

In view of the closure several important services have been cancelled for the day. TTD has announced that arjitha sevas including Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Kalyanotsavam Unjal Seva Arjitha Brahmotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankara Seva will not be conducted.

Along with these services all VIP break darshans Srivani darshan Rs 300 special entry darshan as well as darshan facilities for senior citizens parents with infants differently abled devotees donors and NRIs have also been cancelled.

Temple officials have requested devotees to carefully plan their Tirumala pilgrimage keeping these changes in mind. TTD has reiterated that the measures are part of religious tradition and are taken to ensure proper observance of temple customs during celestial events.