Today will mark this year’s first Lunar Eclipse in India. Reportedly, the eclipse will be visible in many parts of India and a ‘Sutak’ period (Sutak begins approximately nine hours before the eclipse and ends once the eclipse is over and during this period, auspicious rituals and new beginnings are generally avoided) is also in affect.
The first lunar eclipse of 2026 will begin today (March 3) at 3:20 PM, and will end at 6:46 PM. Consequently, the total duration of the eclipse will be approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes.
As per the reports, the lunar eclipse will begin at 3:20 PM today, while the moon is set to rise at 5:59 PM. Hence, the eclipse will only be visible after the moonrise which is towards the end of the eclipse in India. This lunar eclipse will be most clearly visible in eastern India, while it may be partially visible in other regions. In addition to India, this eclipse will also be visible in Australia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and parts of the Americas.
As per the calculations, the Sutak period of today’s eclipse began at 6:20 AM today, (March 3) and will end with the eclipse at 6:46 PM.
