Durga temple to close during Lunar eclipse

Vijayawada, Mar 2 (UNI) The famed Sri Durga Malleswaraswamy devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri will be closed from the evening of March three in view of the Lunar eclipse.

A devasthanam official told UNI the temple would be closed from 1830 hrs tomorrow to 0700 hrs on Sunday.

The temple doors would be opened on Sunday at 0730 hrs and after purfication of goddess Kanakadurga, the pilgrims would be allowed for darshan from 1100 hrs on March 4, he added.

The official said the Brahmarambika Mallikarjuna Swamyvari devasthanam at Srisailam, the Sitaramachandra swamy temple at Bhadrachalam and the Satyanarayana swamy temple at Annavaram would also be closed from tomorrow night and the devotees would be allowed incide for darshan after 'consecrating' the idol on March 4.

The lunar eclipse starting from 0300 hrs on March 4, would end at 0642 hrs, he added.

Meanwhile, TTD sources here said the doors of Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala would be shut from 2000 hrs on March 3 in view of the eclipse.

The temple would be reopened at 0715 hrs on March 4 and after performing holy rituals, public darshan would be allowed from 1000 hrs, the sources added.

UNI