Odisha is set to witness a rare total lunar eclipse on Sunday, September 7, coinciding with Bhadrapada Purnima.
The eclipse will be visible across major cities including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Jajpur, and Rourkela.
According to the Khadiratna Panjika, the partial eclipse will begin at 9:57 PM, followed by the total phase at 11:01 PM. The peak of the eclipse will occur at 11:42 PM, and the total phase will end at 12:23 AM. The entire event will conclude by 1:27 AM on Monday.
Astrologers have noted the rarity of this cosmic alignment, with the last such eclipse during Bhadrapada Purnima observed in 2006. The next one is expected only in 2164, making this a once-in-a-lifetime event for many.
Traditional practices advise abstaining from food and religious rituals starting from 12:57 PM on Sunday until the eclipse ends. Exceptions are made for children, the elderly, and the sick. Ritual baths and worship are recommended during Brahma Muhurta on Monday morning, with regular meals resuming after sunrise.
