Tirupathi Temple will be closed for 10 hours on 31 January

The hill temple of Lord Venkateswara will remain closed for more than 10 hours in connection with the total Lunar Eclipse on January 31, according to the press release by the TTD.

According to the Hindu almanac, the eclipse is scheduled to occur between 5.18 p.m. to 8.41 p.m. and the temple will be closed at 11.00 a.m. and reopened at 9.30 pm. Devotees will be allowed for the darshan from 10.30 p.m. till midnight after the completion of ‘suddhi’ and ‘punyavachanam’ and other sanctifying rituals. All the day time rituals performed inside the temple stand dispensed for the day.

Kakabali offered

Meanwhile in Tirumala the “Kakabali” ritual was held as part of the Kanuma festival. Kakabali is an interesting and unique ritual. “Kaka Bali” was observed inside the Srivari temple during the wee hours as per the norms of Vaikhanasa Agama.

Every year on Kanuma Day, this special food offering is being rendered to Ananda Nilaya Vimana Venkateswara Swamy located in the inner prakaram of Tirumala temple. The archakas mixed turmeric and vermilion separately in cooked rice and threw it over Ananda Nilayam as a part of this celestial fete. Meanwhile this ritual was observed at 4:15am between Thomala seva and Koluvu.

Must read Goda Kalyanam’ marks the culmination of the month-long Thiruppavai Pasuram recitation