Tirumala Temple Closed for Lunar Eclipse Observance Today
Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple will remain closed from 9 am to 7 30 pm due to the lunar eclipse, with rituals and purification to be performed before darshan resumes later tonight
- Tirumala Temple closed due to lunar eclipse timings
- Darshan resumes after purification rituals tonight
- TTD temples in Tirupati also remain closed
The revered Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple has been closed to devotees today in view of the lunar eclipse, following long standing temple traditions. According to the schedule announced by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the temple doors were shut at 9 am and will reopen only at 7 30 pm.
The lunar eclipse is set to begin at 3 20 pm and conclude at 6 47 pm. As per established custom, temple doors are closed six hours before the eclipse begins. After the eclipse ends, purification rituals and Punyahavachanam will be conducted before reopening the sanctum. Devotees will be allowed for darshan from 8 30 pm onwards.
The closure is not limited to Tirumala alone. Several TTD administered temples across Tirupati and nearby regions have also suspended darshan during the eclipse period. Among them are Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanur, Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple in Tirupati, Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srinivasa Mangapuram, and Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple in Tirupati. Other temples in Appalayagunta, Narayanavanam, Karvetinagaram, Nagalapuram, Bugga, Satravada, Nagari, Tarigonda, Vayalpadu, and Kosuvaripalli are also observing the same timings.
TTD has also suspended Annaprasadam distribution centres in Tirupati and Tiruchanur for the day. In some locations, food was distributed in advance, while in others the service remains unavailable during the eclipse period.
The temple town had just concluded the five day annual Teppotsavam celebrations. On the final evening, Lord Malayappa Swamy along with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi was taken on a beautifully decorated float in the sacred Pushkarini. The procession around the four Mada streets and the seven rounds in the illuminated temple tank created a spiritual spectacle for thousands of devotees. Vedic chants, traditional music, and devotional songs added grandeur to the ceremony attended by temple pontiffs and senior officials.
With the eclipse observances in place today, regular temple activities will fully resume after the completion of the prescribed rituals tonight.
