Tirumala temple closes for Lunar eclipse, reopens after purification rites

The hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara Swamy at Tirumala remained closed to devotees for nearly ten hours on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) due to the lunar eclipse. The towering wooden doors of the hill temple were shut almost six hours before the onset of the celestial event, as mandated by the Agama traditions governing the temple.

The shrine reopened around 7.30 pm following the conclusion of the eclipse and the completion of the prescribed purification protocol. Rites such as Suddhi, Punyavachanam, and other sanctification ceremonies were performed in accordance with long-standing religious practices before pilgrims were permitted to have darshan of the deity.