March 3 dawned with a wave of devotion sweeping NCR as lunar eclipse preparations took center stage. Nine hours before the Chandra Grahan, the sutak bell tolled, leading temple administrations to close kapats to pilgrims, enforcing a sacred pause in daily darshans.
Closures commenced sharp at 6:20 AM with Vedic hymns echoing through the premises. Priests conducted final aartis prematurely, then evacuated the areas, counseling worshippers to sustain their bhakti from home altars. This ritual halt preserves the temples’ aura from presumed astral negativities.
Core tenets dictate covering murtis, sequestering worship aids, and abstaining from any sadhana indoors. The sutak thus becomes a meditative interlude for the community, redirecting focus inward.
Post-grahan, by 7 PM, sanctification resumes: holy ablutions, fragrant offerings, and resonant invocations restore the shrines. Evening festivities will draw crowds eager for collective prayers.
With enthusiasm peaking, officials and pandits jointly promote orderly conduct—honoring timings, avoiding rushes. NCR’s temples stand as beacons of tradition, guiding devotees through the eclipse’s mystical veil.