TIRUMALA: Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala will remain closed for nearly 13 hours on December 26, owing to the complete solar eclipse.“As the solar eclipse commences at 8.08 am and concludes by 11.16 am, as a tradition, the temple doors will be closed on December 25 by 11 pm itself and will be opened at 12 pm on December 26,” the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) officials said.
After the completion of rituals, the devotees can continue their darshan after 2 pm. This is a common practice where the temple, shuts its doors during solar and lunar eclipses, for ‘purification’ rituals.
Sevas cancelled
The TTD has cancelled Tiruppavada, Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva, Arjitha Brahmotsavams and Vasanthotsavam. In view of the solar eclipse, Annaprasadam will not be served in the complex or queue lines.