The Tirumalai Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh will remain closed on March 3 this year. The temple will be closed to devotees for more than 10 hours on this day. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) authorities have announced that the temple doors will remain closed from 9 AM to 7:30 PM on that day. There is a lunar eclipse just one day before Holi. Due to this reason, major changes have been made to the schedule for darshan of the Lord in the temple during that time.
Temple closure and opening times
The lunar eclipse will occur on March 3 from 3:20 PM to 6:47 PM. According to religious customs, the temple doors are closed before the beginning of the sutak period or inauspicious time of the eclipse. Therefore, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be closed at 9 AM on this day. After the eclipse ends, the temple will undergo cleaning and 'purification' process at 8:30 PM. After that, the temple doors will be reopened for devotees.
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Cancellation of several programs
Due to the lunar eclipse, the authorities have decided to cancel multiple special pujas at the Tirupati temple on that day. These include Kalyanothsavam (marriage of the deity), Unjal Seva (swing festival), Arjitha Brahmothsavam, Sahasra Deepa Alankara Seva, and Sri Charana puja of the deity. However, only those devotees who had previously booked to witness these programs will be allowed to enter the temple following special guidelines.
Reason for keeping the temple closed during eclipse
In Hindu scriptures, the time of eclipse is considered spiritually 'inauspicious'. It is believed by some that during this time, the influence of negative forces increases due to the effects of Rahu and Ketu. Therefore, worship and offering of bhog in the temple are suspended. It is believed that the deity rests during the eclipse. For this reason, the Tirumala Tirupati temple will remain closed on this day.
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Special message for devotees
Temple authorities have announced that special arrangements have been made to manage crowds as the darshan timings will be reduced on that day. At the same time, those who have planned to visit Tirupati on March 3 have been advised to travel keeping the changed schedule in mind. After 8:30 PM, when the situation normalizes, regular darshan opportunities will be available again.
