Puri, Sept 3: On the occasion of the Bhadraba Purnima lunar eclipse on September 7, special rituals will be observed at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.
The schedule was finalized during a meeting of the Chhatisha Niyog (a temple administrative body) held on Tuesday evening at the temple office.
According to the plan, all regular rituals of Lord Jagannath will be completed by 12:00 noon on the day of the eclipse. From 12:57 PM onward, the Paka Tyaga period—when cooking and other religious activities are suspended—will begin. During this time, no rituals involving the deities will take place.
The lunar eclipse will start at 9:57 PM and will conclude with the Sarvamoksha (ritual signifying complete liberation) at 1:27 AM. Subsequently, the Dwaraphita (opening of the temple doors) will be performed at 2:00 AM, followed by the Mangala Arati (auspicious morning prayer) at 2:40 AM.
The Chhatisha Niyog also discussed and confirmed the resumption of queue-based darshan from the Natamandap (temple hall), which is scheduled to commence on September 15.
Astronomers have noted that this will be the second and final lunar eclipse of the year. It will be visible across India and also in regions such as Asia, Australia, New Zealand, America, and Fiji. The eclipse is expected to have a reddish appearance, a rare celestial event known as the “Blood Moon.”
During the Paka Tyaga period, all auspicious and religious activities are traditionally avoided. Devotees are advised to cook food before 12:57 PM and to place Tulsi (holy basil) leaves in the prepared meals to safeguard them from the supposed negative effects of the eclipse. However, these leaves must be collected prior to the start of the abstinence period.
The temple administration urges devotees to follow all guidelines and respect the sanctity of the rituals during this sacred celestial event.
