Purification rituals at temples

HYDERABAD: Barring Srikalahasti temple, all major temples, including Venkateswara temple of Tirumala, were closed after performing morning rituals on Saturday on account of total lunar eclipse. The Endowments Department cancelled all Arjita Sevas for the day. The temples will be reopened after conducting Samprokshana and other rituals on Sunday morning.At Tirumala, pilgrims were allowed for Sarva Darshan from 6:30 am to 11:30 am. The temple doors were reopened at 10:30 pm and later Punyahavachanam, Suddhi and night Kainkaryams were performed. Around 11:30 pm, Karthika Deepotsavam was held. About 630 ghee lamps were lit in the sanctum sanctorum and at some important places outside the temple. The TTD cancelled Arjita Sevas like Kalyanotsavam, Unjal Seva, Arjita Brahmotsavam, Vasantotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankara Seva on Saturday. Sarva Darshan of Lord Venkateswara will be allowed after 7 am on Sunday.Sri Kanakadurga temple at Vijayawada, Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at  Simhachalam, Sri Mallikharjuna Swamy temple at Srisailam, Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy Temple at  Vemulawada, Sri Saraswati temple at Basara, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadagirigutta and other  major temples were closed. The temples will be reopened on Sunday morning after Samprokshana and Alaya Suddhi.Srikalahasti temple, the only temple which has all Grahas, including Rahu and Kethu, which cause eclipses according to Hindu mythology, remained open. The total lunar eclipse occurring for the second time this year, started at 6.14 pm and ended at 9.48 pm.  While astrologers and devotees were busy performing rituals, rationalists quashed them as blind beliefs without scientific evidence.