Tirupati, March 3 The TTD has announced that the shrine of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy here, along with several other temples managed by it, will remain closed for devotees for 10 hours on Tuesday due to the lunar eclipse.
According to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), darshan will resume at 8:30 pm after the purification rituals are completed following the end of the eclipse period.
"The temples under TTD will remain closed for over 10 hours and reopen for devotees after Suddhi and other purificatory rituals," said an official press release from the temple body.
The Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple in Tirupati will also remain closed to observe the lunar eclipse.
The lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur between 3:20 pm and 6:47 pm. As per established tradition, the temple doors will be closed nearly six hours before the eclipse.
Temples located in Narayanavanam, Karvetinagaram, Nagalapuram, Bugga, Satravada, Nagari, Tarigonda, Vayalpad and Kosuvaripalli will also remain closed during the eclipse period, it said.
To manage the closure, TTD has cancelled several sevas, including Astadala Padapadmaradhana Seva, Unjal Seva, and Arjita Brahmotsavam for the day, said the temple body.
VIP break darshan, Srivani darshan, Rs 300 special darshan, and NRI darshan have also been suspended.
TTD is the official custodian of the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, considered the richest Hindu shrine in the world.