First Chandra Grahan of 2026: Lunar Eclipse On March 3; Check City-Wise Timings in Pune and Across India

Sutak to begin in the morning; eclipse coincides with Holika Dahan

The first lunar eclipse of 2026 will take place on March 3, coinciding with the festival of Holika Dahan. The celestial event will be visible across India, making it significant for both religious observers and astronomy enthusiasts.

According to Drik Panchang, the lunar eclipse will occur in the Leo zodiac sign and will begin at 3:20 pm and continue till 6:47 pm (Indian Standard Time). The Sutak period, considered important from a religious perspective  will start at 9:39 am and remain in effect until 6:46 pm.

As the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon, it is expected to take on a reddish appearance during the eclipse. Since the event will be visible in India, skywatchers will be able to observe it with the naked eye, weather permitting.

City-wise visibility timings for March 3, 2026 are as follows:

In Delhi, the eclipse will be visible from 6:22 pm.
In Noida, it will be seen at 6:26 pm, while Lucknow will witness it at 6:02 pm.
Chandigarh is expected to see it at 6:27 pm, and Kanpur at 6:14 pm.
In Varanasi, visibility begins at 6:04 pm, and Patna at 5:44 pm.
Kolkata will see the eclipse at 5:32 pm, and Bhubaneswar at 5:54 pm.

In the Northeast, 

Guwahati and Shillong will witness it at 5:27 pm, Imphal at 5:18 pm, Kohima at 5:17 pm, and Itanagar at 5:07 pm.

In central and western India, 

Bhopal will see it at 6:21 pm, Indore at 6:35 pm, 

Mumbai at 6:42 pm, and Pune at 6:45 pm.

In the south, 

Chennai is expected to see the eclipse at 6:18 pm, Hyderabad at 6:26 pm, and Bengaluru at 6:28 pm.

Religious beliefs hold that activities such as playing Holi colours are avoided during the Sutak period. 

As a result, Holi celebrations with colours will be observed on March 4, the day after the eclipse, while purification rituals are traditionally performed after the eclipse concludes on March 3 evening.

Astronomers note that lunar eclipses are safe to watch without protective eyewear, unlike solar eclipses. With clear skies, this celestial event is expected to draw significant public interest across the country.

Disclaimer: Eclipse-related rituals and beliefs vary by tradition. Readers are advised to follow guidance as per their personal faith and local customs.