The first total lunar eclipse of the year is going to occur on March 3, 2026. Being visible in India, its religious and astrological importance is quite high. According to the Mahants of Delhi’s famous ancient Hanuman Temple (Connaught Place), this eclipse is not only an astronomical event, but its Sutak period will affect the temples and life of people across the country.

Mahant Sumit Sharma told that the total time of the eclipse will be from 3:20 pm to 6:47 pm. However, Delhiites will see this amazing sight for a very short time. In Delhi, the eclipse will be visible only from 6:20 to 6:26 pm (total 6 minutes).

Sutak period: Restrictions from 6:20 am

The Sutak period of lunar eclipse starts 9 hours before.

• Sutak starts: 6:20 am.
• Temple arrangements: As soon as the Sutak is installed, the offering of flower garlands and Prasad will stop.
• Closing of doors: The doors of the temple will be completely closed at 9:20 am, which will open only after Aarti and purification after the eclipse ends.

Pregnant women and health effects

Astrologers and pundits have warned that this eclipse can be challenging in terms of health:

• Pregnant women: Avoid leaving the house during the eclipse period, so that the baby is not adversely affected.
• Diseases: Patients suffering from cold, cough, pneumonia and blood pressure have been advised to be cautious.
• Zodiac signs: It can have the greatest impact on people with Cancer zodiac (due to Moon being the lord) and Leo zodiac.

What to do and what not to do?

• Chant: Mentally chant ‘Om Namah Shivay’ or Ishta Dev during the eclipse.
• Donation: Doing charity is considered fruitful only after the eclipse ends.
• Purification: After the eclipse is over, take bath, bathe the idols and change clothes.
• Special Note: Swayambhu idols (like the main idol of the ancient Hanuman temple) are not blamed for the eclipse, but the doors are kept closed as per tradition.

Other eclipses of 2026

According to pundits, a total of three eclipses will occur in 2026, out of which only this total lunar eclipse will be visible in India. The remaining two eclipses will be effective in foreign countries and will be invisible in India.

Chandra Grahan 2026: The first lunar eclipse of the year is going to occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. It will be visible in India and its Sutak period is also going to be effective. In such a situation, people of some zodiac signs will need to take special precautions. This will be a partial lunar eclipse, which will be visible in India. During this time, the Moon will be in Leo, where the shadow planet Ketu is already present. The combination of both and the effect of lunar eclipse can have a negative impact on some zodiac signs. During this period, these people will need to be careful in all their work and should avoid any kind of travel.

Astrologer Dr. Anish Vyas, Director of Pal Balaji Astrology Institute, Jaipur, Jodhpur, said that in the year 2026, there will be two lunar eclipses, but only one of them will be visible in India. The first lunar eclipse will occur on the full moon day of Phalgun month, while the second will occur on Shravan full moon day. But only the lunar eclipse of March 3 can be seen in India. The eclipse of August 28 will not be visible from India, hence only one lunar eclipse will be directly visible in the country.

The lunar eclipse will begin at 3:20 pm on March 3 and will end at 6:48 pm. In Jaipur, the moon will rise at 6:29 pm and the eclipse will end at 6:48 pm, due to which the eclipse duration will be only 18 minutes. The sutak of the eclipse will come into effect from 6:20 am on Tuesday. The eclipse will occur in Purva Phalguni Nakshatra and Leo and will be visible in India. It would be auspicious to perform Holika Dahan on March 2, a day before the lunar eclipse. Holika Dahan can be done after the eclipse ends on March 3. Thus, the festival of colors will be celebrated on 4th March.

Total duration of lunar eclipse in India 25 minutes

In India, this lunar eclipse will be visible in the form of Prastodaya. That means by the time the moon rises in India, the moon will have been eclipsed. Therefore it will appear in the form of Pratodaya. Let us tell you that the beginning and middle of this lunar eclipse will not be visible in India. In India, this eclipse will be considered to begin from the local moonrise. At the time of moonrise in India, the lunar eclipse will be about to end, that is, the lunar eclipse will be visible in India only at the time of its end. The total duration of the lunar eclipse in India will be 25 minutes.

Actually, according to Indian time, the eclipse will start at 3:20 minutes and will end at 6:47 minutes in the evening. At the same time, moonrise in Delhi will happen at 6:22 in the evening, only after which the eclipse will be visible in the cities of India. In such a situation, the total duration of the lunar eclipse in India will be only 25 minutes. Let us tell you that in other cities of India, the duration of the eclipse may vary depending on the time of moonrise. But, according to moonrise in Delhi, the eclipse will be visible only for 25 minutes. The duration of the eclipse being visible in the northern eastern states will be about 59 minutes.

Lunar eclipse will be visible in India

The first lunar eclipse of the year will be visible mainly in the areas of East Asia, Australia, Pacific Ocean and America. The initial stages of penumbra penetration will be visible in Argentina, parts of Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Greenland and the North Atlantic Ocean at the time of moonset. The end of the penumbra of the eclipse will be visible at the time of moonrise in Russia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and the Indian Ocean.

sutak of lunar eclipse

Sutak in India:- Its sutak will start at 06:20 am.

Circumstances of lunar eclipse (Indian Standard Time)

penumbra entry 02:13 pm,
Eclipse start (touch): 03:20 pm,
Completion start :- 04:34 pm, eclipse day)
Mid :- 05:05 pm,
Completion ends: 05:33 PM,
Eclipse ends (Moksha) :- 06:48 pm,
Penumbral end: 07:55 pm,
Eclipse Grasman (magnitude) :- 1.155,
Eclipse duration:- 03 hours 28 minutes,
Completion time :- 59 minutes

Eclipse in Jaipur :- Moonrise: 06:29 pm, Eclipse duration: 18 minutes, the end of the penumbra of the eclipse will be visible here.
Eclipse in Udaipur :- Moonrise: 06:39 pm, Eclipse duration: 08 minutes, the end of the penumbra of the eclipse will be visible here.

Effect of eclipse on zodiac signs

The lunar eclipse is taking place in Purva Phalguni Nakshatra and Leo zodiac sign, hence, the eclipse will be especially inauspicious and painful for the people of this constellation and zodiac sign. The zodiac sign for which the result of eclipse is said to be inauspicious, the inauspicious effect is mitigated by chanting, chanting, planetary zodiac (Moon and zodiac lord Sun) and charity etc. as per the capacity. Apart from this, inhaling the medicine after the eclipse also provides relief from evil. The people of the zodiac sign in which the eclipse occurs must take measures.

Aries – excessive expenditure, wasted effort
Taurus- proven, profitable
Gemini- progress, enthusiasm, effort-increase
Cancer zodiac sign – suffering from loss of money, wastage
leo zodiac sign – Body pain, fear of injury, financial loss
Virgo sun sign – money loss, trouble
Libra – wealth and happiness
Scorpio – disease, suffering, worry, fear, struggle
Sagittarius- child related concerns
Capricorn- Fear of enemy and accident, excess of expenditure
Aquarius- trouble to spouse
Pisces – Illness, secret worry, delay in work

There is also a possibility of natural disasters

Due to lunar eclipse, natural disasters may occur more than before time. There are indications of earthquake, flood, tsunami, plane crashes. There is very little possibility of loss of life in a natural disaster. Sad news from films and politics. There will be a boom in business. There will be reduction in diseases. Employment opportunities will increase and income will increase. There is a possibility of an airplane accident, political instability i.e. political atmosphere will be high all over the world. There will be more political allegations and counter-allegations. There will be changes in the power organization. Tension will start on the borders all over the world. Situations of agitation, violence, protests, strikes, bank scams, riots and arson may arise.

Also read: Holi 2026 Lucky Colours: It will be better if you play Holi according to the zodiac sign, know which color and gulal is auspicious for whom.