Total Lunar Eclipse to Grace Indian Skies on Holi Evening
A spectacular total lunar eclipse is set to unfold across India on Tuesday evening, coinciding with Holi celebrations. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the celestial event will occur between 3:20 PM and 6:48 PM Indian Standard Time (IST). The total phase, when the Moon is completely immersed in Earth's umbral shadow, will last from 4:34 PM to 5:33 PM.
Visibility Challenges Due to Moonrise Timings
However, many regions will miss the full drama of totality because the eclipse begins before moonrise. In the Tricity region, the Moon will rise already wearing a fading veil of Earth's shadow. By moonrise, the total phase will have ended, leaving residents to witness only the final umbral phase—a brief but striking display as the Moon slowly steps out of Earth's inner shadow just after sunset.
Southern Cities to Miss 'Blood Moon' Phenomenon
In Hyderabad and several parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, skywatchers will also see only the closing stages. Hyderabad's moonrise is expected at 6:22 PM, by which time the Moon will already be moving out of Earth's umbra (the darkest part of the shadow) and penumbra (the lighter outer shadow). While the so-called "blood moon"—when the Moon turns a deep reddish hue—will be visible in the Pacific region and parts of northeast India, southern observers will largely miss the peak.
Eastern Cities Get Longer Viewing Windows
In Kolkata, the Moon is set to rise at 6:17 PM. According to the IMD's Positional Astronomy Centre in Kolkata, residents will be able to see the eclipse for about 31 minutes after moonrise, until the end of the umbral phase at 6:48 PM. Cities in eastern parts are expected to get longer viewing windows:
- Cuttack: Up to 58 minutes of visibility after its 5:50 PM moonrise
- Bhubaneswar and Hazaribagh: 57 minutes after 5:51 PM moonrise
- Gaya: 56 minutes after 5:52 PM moonrise
Another estimate suggests viewers in Kolkata could have a longer window. "According to astronomical predictions, the moonrise in Kolkata is scheduled for 5:39 PM. The eclipse will still be in progress during that time, allowing residents to see the moon emerge from the horizon," said Bipash Das Gupta, scientific officer at MP Birla Institute of Fundamental Research. "The totality phase will be followed by the umbral phase, which will continue until 6:48 PM. This will allow viewers in Kolkata to witness the rare celestial event for about an hour and nine minutes as the Moon will gradually return to its usual brightness."
Partial Eclipse in Major Metros
In cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible between 5:38 PM and 7:53 PM, according to astronomical tracking platform Time and Date. Though not everyone will see the Moon at its deepest red, many will still catch at least the closing moments of one of the year's most anticipated celestial events.
The simultaneous occurrence of the lunar eclipse with Holi adds a unique astronomical dimension to the festival of colors, though viewing conditions will vary significantly based on geographic location and local moonrise times.
