Chandra Grahan 2026 highlights: What happens after total lunar eclipse ends?

Chandra Grahan Live updates: The Lunar Eclipse 2026 carries added cultural significance as it coincides with Holi, the festival of colours.

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Phalguna. Notably, lunar eclipses also occur only on full moons. Such overlaps are rare in India, making today’s event extra special — both astronomically and culturally.

As India celebrates vibrant colours on the ground, the skies mark a dramatic celestial alignment above.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: Astrologically, this Blood Moon Eclipse of 2026 is considered to be the most powerful Eclipse of 2026 because it's a total lunar eclipse, says astrologer Jill Brown to HT. Also, this will be the last Lunar Eclipse until 2028, which makes tomorrow a more impactful day astrologically.

“A lunar eclipse can be thought of like an amplified Full Moon’s energy, which focuses on letting go, releasing, and ending cycles,” says astrologer Jill. In simple terms, this eclipse may push people to close chapters they have outgrown.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: The partial Lunar eclipse is underway; Visuals of the moon from near Jagannath Puri Temple.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: The total lunar eclipse has now come to an end, and the Moon is gradually moving out of the Earth’s darkest shadow. A narrow, bright strip of light is starting to appear along the edge of the lunar surface as it exits the umbra.

Although the deep red “blood moon” phase has passed, the spectacle is not over. Observers can still watch a delicate silver arc forming on one side of the Moon. Over the next hour, this illuminated edge will steadily widen and move across the lunar disk as it returns to its usual brightness.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: Several temples across Tamil Nadu have restricted the darshan timings on Tuesday due to total lunar eclipse.

The Marundeeswar temple in Chennai, Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple in Madurai, Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam, and the Subramaniaswamy temple at Marudhamalai hills in Coimbatore were among the temples that closed the temple doors as per custom observed during the celestial event.

The TTD temple at T Nagar, here, also remained closed for the eclipse.

The temples will reopen for darshan after the purification rituals were performed, an official said.

The first total lunar eclipse for this year will be visible during the ending phase in Chennai and Kanyakumari for upto 31 minutes from 6.17 pm, according to the India Meteorological Department. (PTI)

Chandra Grahan Live updates: The Lunar Eclipse 2026 carries added cultural significance as it coincides with Holi, the festival of colours.

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Phalguna. Notably, lunar eclipses also occur only on full moons. Such overlaps are rare in India, making today’s event extra special — both astronomically and culturally.

As India celebrates vibrant colours on the ground, the skies mark a dramatic celestial alignment above.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: Telescopes with high-resolution lenses have been set up in Assam Planetarium for the people to witness the lunar eclipse.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: While most regions will see only a partial phase at moonrise, parts of Northeast India are expected to have a clearer and more complete view of the total eclipse. These include:

• Dibrugarh, Assam
• Dispur, Assam
• Guwahati, Assam
• Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
• Shillong, Meghalaya

Chandra Grahan Live updates: Astrologically, this Blood Moon Eclipse of 2026 is considered to be the most powerful Eclipse of 2026 because it's a total lunar eclipse, says astrologer Jill Brown to HT. Also, this will be the last Lunar Eclipse until 2028, which makes tomorrow a more impactful day astrologically.

“A lunar eclipse can be thought of like an amplified Full Moon’s energy, which focuses on letting go, releasing, and ending cycles,” says astrologer Jill. In simple terms, this eclipse may push people to close chapters they have outgrown.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: All temples under the jurisdiction of TTD will also remain shut during this period. After the conclusion of the eclipse, purification rituals will be performed in accordance with Agama traditions, following which darshan for devotees will resume.

In view of the eclipse, the free Annaprasadam distribution centres operated by TTD have also been temporarily suspended. Devotees have been advised to take note of the revised schedule and plan their visits accordingly.

The Lunar Eclipse 2026 carries added cultural significance as it coincides with Holi, the festival of colours.

Holi is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Phalguna. Notably, lunar eclipses also occur only on full moons. Such overlaps are rare in India, making today’s event extra special — both astronomically and culturally.

As India celebrates vibrant colours on the ground, the skies mark a dramatic celestial alignment above.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: Unlike solar eclipses, which are visible only in narrow paths, a lunar eclipse can be seen anywhere the Moon is above the horizon.

Observers across India, Asia, Australia, the Americas and parts of Europe can witness it.

The Moon is about 238,855 miles (384,400 km) away from Earth. If Earth were the size of a nickel, the Moon would be about as big as a coffee bean.

The Moon moves about an inch farther away from Earth each year.

Best visibility: North-East India, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Partial visibility: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru (visible after moonrise)

Western and central India may miss early phases but can catch totality if skies remain clear.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: Astrologically, this Blood Moon Eclipse of 2026 is considered to be the most powerful Eclipse of 2026 because it's a total lunar eclipse, says astrologer Jill Brown to HT. Also, this will be the last Lunar Eclipse until 2028, which makes tomorrow a more impactful day astrologically.

“A lunar eclipse can be thought of like an amplified Full Moon’s energy, which focuses on letting go, releasing, and ending cycles,” says astrologer Jill. In simple terms, this eclipse may push people to close chapters they have outgrown.

Chandra Grahan Live updates: From a scientific standpoint, a lunar eclipse is a natural and predictable celestial event caused by orbital mechanics.

Culturally, however, eclipses hold spiritual significance in many Indian traditions. Ritual observances, temple closures during Sutak Kaal and special prayers often accompany a Chandra Grahan.

This year’s Holi–lunar eclipse combination makes the day particularly special — blending vibrant celebrations on the ground with a rare astronomical event in the sky.

The Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse occurring on March 3, 2026, is being described as one of the most powerful celestial events of 2026, both astrologically and scientifically. A US based astrologer and a former NASA scientist, Jill Brown, explains how this lunar eclipse of 2026 is going to affect your zodiac sign. Read full story here

The Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple will remain closed for approximately ten hours on Tuesday in observance of the total lunar eclipse.

According to temple authorities, the eclipse will commence at 3:21 PM and continue until 6:47 PM. As per established religious customs followed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the temple will be closed from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM.

The celestial event will follow a specific schedule throughout the afternoon and evening. The eclipse is slated to begin at 15:20 (3:20 PM), with the totality phase starting at 16:34 (4:34 PM). The Moon will remain completely within the Earth's shadow until totality ends at 17:33 (5:33 PM), and the entire eclipse cycle will officially conclude at 18:48 (6:48 PM).

Several temples across Tamil Nadu have restricted the darshan timings on Tuesday due to total lunar eclipse.

The Marundeeswar temple in Chennai, Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple in Madurai, Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam, and the Subramaniaswamy temple at Marudhamalai hills in Coimbatore were among the temples that closed the temple doors as per custom observed during the celestial event.

The TTD temple at T Nagar, here, also remained closed for the eclipse.

Lunar Eclipse LIVE updates: A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon are perfectly aligned, and the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon. This blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon, causing it to pass through Earth's umbral shadow and often turn a reddish hue — popularly known as a “Blood Moon”.

The IMD has confirmed that today’s eclipse will be a deep one, with a magnitude of 1.155.