Temples in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Close Doors for Lunar Eclipse
Hey folks, if you’re planning a visit to some of India’s most famous temples today, you might have to wait a bit. The grand Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple on Tirumala Hill near Tirupati, along with several major temples across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, shut their doors on Sunday evening because of a lunar eclipse. This age-old tradition keeps the sacred spaces protected during this celestial event.
Priests at these temples wrapped up special rituals before closing the doors around 3:30 p.m. Don’t worry, though—they’ll swing them open again early Monday after some purification ceremonies. For the iconic Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which runs the hilltop shrine, the reopening kicks off at 3 a.m. with Suddhi rituals, and darshan for devotees starts at 6 a.m. on September 8.
The lunar eclipse itself is a nighttime show, beginning at 9:50 p.m. on Sunday and wrapping up at 1:31 a.m. on Monday. TTD Trust Board Chairman BR Naidu shared with the media outside the main temple that they followed all the traditional steps to close things ceremoniously. "It’s all about respecting the eclipse and ensuring everything’s pure before we welcome everyone back," he explained.
Even better, no devotees got stuck in a lurch. Additional Executive Officer Venkaiah Chowdary assured that everyone inside the temple compartments got their darshan on time without any hassle. To keep things going for visitors, TTD’s Annaprasadam team whipped up 50,000 packets of yummy Pulihora (tamarind rice) for distribution on Sunday. The main Annaprasadam Complex, Vakulamata, PAC 2, and Vaikuntham Canteens in Tirumala stayed closed due to the eclipse, but food service resumes from 8 a.m. Monday.
A few special paid services, or Arjita Sevas, like Unjal Seva, Arjitha Brahmotsavam, and Sahasra Deepapalankara Seva, got cancelled for the day because of the lunar eclipse. This isn’t unusual—temples across India often pause darshan and sevas during solar or lunar eclipses, reopening in the evening after thorough purification.
The closures aren’t limited to Tirumala. Other big-name temples in the Telugu states joined in too. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Mallikarjuna Temple in Srisailam
- Kodandarama Temple at Vontimitta
- Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam
- Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Yadadri
- Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple at Simhachalam
- Kanaka Durga Temple at Vijayawada
Even the stunning Sri Suryanarayana Swami Temple (the famous sun temple) at Arasavalli in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district shut its doors. Over in Telangana, the Saraswati Temple at Basar and Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple at Vemulawada followed suit for the lunar eclipse.
If you’re a temple enthusiast or just curious about Hindu traditions during celestial events, this shows how deeply these practices are woven into daily life. Keep an eye on updates from TTD and local authorities for any changes, and plan your next visit post-eclipse for a smooth experience!
