Tirupati: The Lord Balaji temple at Tirumala will be closed for nearly 9 hours on Monday for the lunar eclipse. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) urged devotees to plan their pilgrimage accordingly.
“The temple will remain closed from 4.30 pm on Monday to 2 am on August 8,” said Tirumala JEO K.S. Sreenivasa Raju.
He told mediapersons that the eclipse would start at 10.52 pm on August 7 and last till 12.48 am on August 8. The temple is usually closed six hours prior to the grahanam. “The temple will be reopened after performing punyahavachanam and suddhi”, he said. No food will be served to devotees from 4 pm either in the Annaprasadam complex or in queue lines.
He added that the early morning Arjitha Sevas would be performed as usual. The Sarva Darshan would commence by 7 am on August 8.
The TTD has cancelled Arjitha Sevas including Visesha Puja, Kalyan-otsavam, Unjal Seva, Arjtha Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam and Sahasra Deeplankara Seva on August 7. The Thomala and Archana will be performed as Ekantham.
Along with Tirumala temple, Kanipakam and Tiruchanoor temples will be closed.
