Lunar Eclipse Today: Chandra Grahan Timings, Sutak Kaal, Do's & Don'ts For Pregnant Women During Blood Moon

The first lunar eclipse of India will be visible on March 3, 2026, across the majority of cities. This coincides with Holika Dahan and the celebration of the Holi festival. Also, the lunar eclipse is coinciding with the full moon day of 12 Phalguna, 1947 Saka Era. As per the IMD and government report, the eclipse will be visible in most places in India except for some places of extreme western parts. Apart from this, the eclipse will be visible in areas that cover eastern Asia, Australia, Pacific Ocean and the Americas.

Chandra Grahan 2026 Date and Time

On March 3, in India, Chandra Grahan will begin from 3.20 pm and will end at 6.46 pm. Accordingly, the eclipse will start from 3:20 PM IST. The full eclipse could be viewed between 6:33 PM and 6:40 PM IST before ending at 6:47 PM IST.

Chandra Grahan 2026 Sutak Kaal Start and End Time

As per the reports, the Sutak Kaal has already started from 6.23 am on March 3 and will end with the Eclipse.

Total Lunar Eclipse Visibility in India

According to the Minister of Earth Sciences, most of the places of India will observe the ending of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise except some places of North-East India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands where the end of the totality phase of the eclipse will also be visible.

The eclipse will begin at 15 hr 20 min IST and the ending time of the eclipse is18 hr 48 min IST. Also, the magnitude of the eclipse is 1.155.

Chandra Grahan 2026: Which Cities Lunar Eclipse Will Be Visible?

Cities like Agartala, Bhagalpur, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Dibrugarh, Gangtok, Guwahati, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, Kolkata, Midnapore, Murshidabad, Port Blair, Shillong, Sibsagar, Silchar, Siliguri, and Tamelong -- will be able to see the lunar eclipse for more than an hour.

Meanwhile, lunar eclipse will be visible for less than 1 hour or 30 minutes in cities like Vijayawada, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Varanasi, Vadodara, Ujjain, Udaipur, Trichur, Thiruvanantapuram, Thanjavur, Srinagar, Ranchi, Rajkot, Raipur, Pune, Patna, Panaji, Pondicherry, Lucknow, Mangalore, Jammu, and Hyderabad.

Chandra Grahan: Do's & Don'ts

As per Astro Ulagam, here are some of the important practices to follow during Chandra Grahan:

1. Many believe that harmful cosmic rays are released during an eclipse, so staying indoors is preferred.

2. Children are often advised not to leave the house or watch the eclipse without adult supervision.

3. Performing poojai or auspicious ceremonies during the eclipse is generally avoided.

4. Holy mantras and meditation are encouraged during this time for positive energy and peace of mind.

5. Some avoid eating during the eclipse, believing that the rays affect the purity of food, while others place Tulasi (holy basil) leaves in stored food and water for purification.

6. It is also a common belief that bathing before and after the eclipse is spiritually cleansing.

Do's & Don'ts For Pregnant Women:

Traditionally, pregnant women are advised to be extra careful during Chandra Grahan. As per the Astro, here are some of the rules to follow and avoid.

Dos:

- Stay indoors and avoid looking directly at the moon.
- Keep a small piece of Tulasi leaves or silver nearby, as per traditional belief.
- Spend time in meditation, chanting mantras, or engaging in calming activities.

Don'ts

- Avoid using sharp objects like knives or scissors.
- Do not eat or drink during the eclipse, according to cultural customs.
- Avoid stepping outdoors, especially under direct moonlight.

What Is Lunar Eclipse?

Lunar Eclipse occurs on a full moon day when the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon and when all the three objects are aligned. A total lunar eclipse will occur when the whole Moon comes under the umbral shadow of the Earth and the partial lunar eclipse occurs only when a part of the Moon comes under shadow of the Earth, as per the ministry.

The next lunar eclipse which will be visible from India is on 6th July, 2028 and the same is a partial lunar eclipse.