Temples Across Telangana Temporarily Closed For Lunar Eclipse Rituals And Purification

Temples across Telangana have been temporarily closed due to the lunar eclipse. The Endowments Department stated that astrology deems rituals and darshan in temples during this time as inauspicious. Consequently, temple doors were shut before the eclipse began, preventing devotees from entering. Once the eclipse ends on Monday, temples will reopen for purification rituals and special prayers before allowing devotees back inside.

In Tirumala, the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is among those affected. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages this renowned hill shrine, closed its doors traditionally at 3:30 pm. Thousands of devotees who had arrived at Tirumala faced temporary waiting due to these arrangements. Darshan for devotees is set to resume at 6 am on September 8.

Lunar Eclipse Impact on Temple Activities

The lunar eclipse begins at 9:50 pm and concludes at 1:31 am on Monday. During this period, several major temples in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including Mallikarjuna Temple in Srisailam and Kodandarama Temple at Vontimitta, are also closed. Other affected temples include Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Yadadri.

The Annaprasadam wing of TTD has prepared 50,000 'Pulihora' packets for distribution among devotees on Sunday. This is because the main Annaprasadam Complex, Vakulamata, PAC 2, and Vaikuntham Canteens remain closed in Tirumala due to the eclipse. Annaprasadam activities will commence from 8 am onwards.

Changes in Rituals Due to Eclipse

Arjita Sevas such as Unjal Seva, Arjitha Brahmotsavam, and Sahasra Deepapalankara Seva were cancelled on Sunday because of the lunar eclipse. These changes affect temple activities significantly during this period. Devotees are advised to plan their visits accordingly once normal operations resume post-eclipse.

Other prominent temples like Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple at Simhachalam and Kanaka Durga Temple at Vijayawada have also been closed during the eclipse period. These closures are part of a broader effort to adhere to traditional beliefs regarding eclipses and their impact on religious practices.

As soon as the eclipse concludes, purification rituals will be conducted before reopening the temples for devotees. This ensures that all religious practices align with traditional beliefs about maintaining sanctity during celestial events like eclipses.