Lucknow, March 3 Prominent temples across Uttar Pradesh, including the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, and the Vindhyavasini temple in Mirzapur, were closed on Tuesday due to the lunar eclipse and will reopen in the evening after the rituals.
According to the Kashi Vishwanath temple authorities, the lunar eclipse will be visible in India and observed between 3:27 pm and 6:47 pm.
In accordance with religious scriptures, the temples will observe ‘Sutak Kaal’, the inauspicious period preceding and during the eclipse, during which regular rituals and darshan are restricted.
The Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust in Varanasi said that, as per tradition, the temple gates are closed before the commencement of the eclipse. Following this custom, the temple doors were closed at 4:30 am.
After the conclusion of the eclipse, rituals related to ‘moksha’ (the conclusion of the eclipse) will be performed in accordance with scriptures, followed by purification ceremonies.
The temple was scheduled to reopen for devotees after 7:15 pm.
In Ayodhya, the Ram Temple was closed from 9 am onwards due to the Sutak Kaal hours prior to the eclipse.
Temple sources said that the Mangala Aarti at 4:30 am and the Shringar Aarti at 6:30 am were conducted as per schedule.
‘Bal Bhog’ was offered to Ram Lalla at 8:15 am. After the Shringar Aarti, darshan was allowed from 6:30 am to 9 am. The temple doors were then closed and were to reopen after the evening aarti, with darshan available from 8:30 pm to 11 pm, Ram temple trust officials said.
In Mathura and Vrindavan, most temples closed early for morning darshan and were scheduled to reopen after the eclipse ended around 7 pm.
However, the historic Dwarkadhish Temple followed its regular schedule and remained open during the eclipse.
Rakesh Tiwari, the media in-charge of the temple, said that in the Pushtimarg tradition, Lord Krishna is worshipped in his child form and devotees believe they must remain with the deity during difficult times.
The Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan opened early at 5:15 am and closed at 8:30 am.
According to a press release issued by the temple’s high-powered committee, it was scheduled to reopen for evening darshan at 7 pm and close at 10 pm.
At the Shri Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura, the temple opened at 5 am for Mangala Aarti and closed at 6 am for darshan.
Kapil Sharma, secretary of the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan, said that the temple would reopen for evening darshan at 8 pm and close at 9 pm.
The Radha Rani Temple in Barsana was also scheduled to reopen at 7 pm for evening darshan and close at 9 pm, Madhav Krishna Goswami, sewayat of the temple, said.
In Mirzapur, the Vindhyavasini Temple remained closed in the morning in view of the eclipse.
Bhanu Pathak of the Vindhya Panda Samaj, said the temple doors were shut from 3:15 pm to 8 pm during the Sutak and eclipse period.
After completion of rituals and aarti, devotees will be allowed to offer prayers.
Temple authorities across the state appealed to devotees to adhere to the revised schedules and cooperate with the arrangements made in view of the eclipse.
