Two back-to-back lunar eclipses to grace Odisha skies, astrologers divided over impact

Odisha will witness two rare lunar eclipses within six months—on September 7, 2025 and March 3, 2026—coinciding with sacred dates in the Hindu calendar. While astronomers view the events with scientific curiosity, astrologers are split over their spiritual impact. With one Rahu-influenced and the other Ketu-influenced, Jagannath Temple authorities in Puri are preparing special rituals for the celestial events.

Two back-to-back lunar eclipses to grace Odisha skies, astrologers divided over impact

An astrologer going through almanac (Panjika) in Odisha

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Odisha is set to witness two lunar eclipses within a span of six months, sparking both curiosity and debate among astronomers and astrologers, sources said on Thursday.

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The first eclipse will occur on September 7, coinciding with Bhadraba Shukla Purnima, while the second will take place on March 3 next year during Dola Purnima.

What makes these celestial events particularly significant is their astrological interpretation. Experts say the September eclipse is Rahu-influenced, while the March eclipse is Ketu-influenced—a rare back-to-back pairing that has left the astrology community divided.

While some astrologers have expressed concern, predicting inauspicious effects for the country, renowned astrologer Naresh Chandra Dash dismissed such apprehensions, stating that eclipses “are not necessarily harmful or ominous.”

In Puri, preparations are underway at the Jagannath Temple, where a special Chhatisa Nijog meeting has been scheduled for September 2 to finalize the temple’s ritual schedule during the eclipse. A separate Niti Nirghanta (ritual guideline) is also expected to be approved for the event.

As these celestial events approach, the State looks to the skies with a mix of wonder, reverence, and cautious anticipation.

“Two lunar eclipses will occur this year; one of them is Rahu-influenced ‘kha grasa’ lunar eclipse and the other is Ketu-influenced ‘kha grasa’ lunar eclipse. There is an elaborate description about these two eclipses in the almanac (Panjika). However, there is no mention of any inauspiciousity in the almanac,” astrologer Naresh Dash said to OTV.

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