Barring Srikalahasti, other temples stay closed for lunar eclipse

Tirupati: Barring Srikalahasti temple, which remained open for pilgrim worship, all other prominent temples, including Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, remained closed for close to 10 hours due to lunar eclipse on Tuesday.The ‘mahadwaram' of Tirumala temple was sealed off at around 9 am. After the end of ‘grahana kalam', temple priests performed purificatory rituals, following which pilgrim worship resumed in the evening. Other TTD temples in and around Tirupati also remained closed during the lunar eclipse cycle.Devotees who arrived in Tirupati from across the country queued up at Srikalahasti temple, which was the only temple open during the eclipse hours, as it is considered auspicious to offer prayers to Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy and Goddess Gnana Prasoonambika Devi on eclipse day, when a series of special rituals are performed at the Srikalahasti temple.