Temples You Can Visit During the Solar Eclipse!

A solar eclipse is often seen as a time when temples across the world shut their doors, following the age-old traditions of the Hindu faith system. Many people who hold such a faith suggest that the eclipse brings negative energy, making temple visits during this period inauspicious. However, each and every temple follows this ritual. Some even remain open, welcoming the devotees for prayers and rituals despite the celestial event.

If you are someone who is wondering which temples allow worship during a solar eclipse, we’ve got you covered. Here is a structured list of some of the most well-known temples that stay open, along with the reasons why they defy tradition.

In Hinduism, it is widely believed that a solar eclipse, a.k.a. Surya Grahan, is an inauspicious time, linked with bad omen. Many temples with such a belief shut their doors, and people avoid performing rituals or even eating food during the event. The reasoning behind this stems from the idea of people that the eclipse affects the natural balance, and the activities during this period may absorb all the negative energy.

Despite this widely known phenomenon, some temples have a different perspective. They believe that devotion and prayers should not stop, regardless of any astronomical events up there in the universe. Therefore, below are few temples that do not shut their doors during a Grahan:


1. Jagannath Puri, Odisha
One of the most famous temples in India, the Jagannath Temple in Puri does not strictly follow the closure rule during an eclipse. The temple doors often remain open, and regular prayers continue uninterrupted.

2. ISKCON Temples (Various Locations)
ISKCON temples across India and the world usually remain open during an eclipse. Devotees continue to chant and perform kirtans, emphasising that devotion should not be paused due to celestial occurrences.

3. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
The sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, one of the most revered Shiva temples, often allows devotees inside during an eclipse. Some priests even perform special purification rituals post-eclipse.

4. Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand
In the past, the Badrinath Temple has remained open during eclipses, allowing pilgrims to offer prayers as usual. Since it is one of the Char Dham temples, its traditions sometimes differ from other Hindu temples.

5. Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Karnataka
Unlike many South Indian temples that strictly follow eclipse closure rituals, Udupi’s Sri Krishna Temple is known to keep its doors open for prayers and darshan. The priests believe that devotion is beyond astronomical events.

The temples that we listed remain open during a solar eclipse based on their belief that devotion should be constant and uninterrupted by any external factors that potentially have nothing to do with worshipping. Many spiritual leaders, as per their own opinions and interpretations even argue to the faith holders that God does not stop existing during an eclipse, so worship should not be restricted either of the ways. Some temples also see the eclipse as an opportunity to conduct special prayers and purification rituals.
The decision to visit a temple during an eclipse is entirely a personal one. While some people choose to follow the traditional beliefs, either out of fear or respect and avoid temple visits during this time, others believe in continuous worship and do not see an issue with the solar eclipse. If you are comfortable with the idea, these temples provide you with an opportunity for your religious and spiritual connection with yourself even during an eclipse.

If you are someone who always believed that temples shut down completely during a solar eclipse, now you know that’s not entirely true. While many do follow traditional restrictions, some temples continue to welcome devotees, offering a great alternative for those who wish to pray. Whether you choose to follow the widely accepted tradition or explore a different perspective, the key is to stay true to your personal desires and bliss.

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