SJTA revises Srimandir rituals, food abstinence timings on lunar eclipse; check details

The Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has revised the Srimandir rituals and timings of food abstinence for people on the lunar eclipse day which falls on November 8.

Since Kartik Purnima will also be celebrated on the day, scholars and astrologers were advised to reschedule all the rituals and offerings of different prasads.

The timings were revised in a Chhattisa Nijog meeting held in Puri on Tuesday in the presence of the District Collector and senior Servitors.

The revised timings are as follow:

Temple will be closed for public darshan on November 7 night.

Rituals will begin with ‘Dwara Fita’ at 12:10 am on November 8.

All the rituals including ‘Bhoga Mandap’ will conclude before 5:50 am on November 8.

Food abstinence for people starts from 5:54 am on November 8.

The eclipse will start at 2:38:14 pm and will conclude at 6:18:47 pm on November 8

Speaking with the reporters, Puri Collector, Samarth Verma said, “We will try to complete the Rajadhiraj Besha of Lord Jagannath between 12:10 am and 5:00 am on November 8.”

Earlier, the SJTA had announced the rituals for the deities on the day of the lunar eclipse on November 8 would be completed before 8.29 am. It also advised the people to abstain from taking food and not to perform puja after this time.

However, astrologers pointed out that the rituals should be stopped before sunrise on November 8 as per astrological calculations.

Following the misunderstanding over the timing, the SJTA had decided to hold a meeting and revise the schedule of the rituals.

This will be the last solar eclipse of the year. The eclipse which is a partial one will take place on Tuesday.