Solar and Lunar Eclipses in the Panchang: What the Rules Are

A solar eclipse occurs at new moon when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun; a lunar eclipse occurs at full moon when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon. In Hindu calendrical practice both are treated as sensitive periods. Many families avoid starting new ventures, and some routine worship is paused or modified while the eclipse is in progress.

The panchang lists the contact times (start, maximum, end) so people can plan meals, puja and travel. Exact clock times depend on location: an eclipse may be total in one city, partial in another, and invisible below the horizon elsewhere.

Common traditional advice includes not starting auspicious ceremonies during the eclipse window, and in many communities not eating or not cooking during the period of contact. After the eclipse ends, a bath and sometimes a change of clothes are customary before resuming normal worship.

Temple schedules and family customs vary. Some temples close the sanctum during the eclipse; others continue with modified rituals. For personal practice, following the custom of your household or local temple is the usual guide.

Astronomically an eclipse is a global geometric event, but from a given city it may not be visible at all if it happens at night for a solar eclipse or during the day for a lunar one when the Moon is below the horizon. Panchangs and this site’s eclipse pages distinguish the geometric contacts from local visibility where the data supports it.

If an eclipse is not visible at your location, some communities still observe a shorter or symbolic restriction; others only observe when the eclipse can actually be seen. There is no single pan-Indian rule.

Many traditions observe a preparatory period (often called sutak) before the eclipse begins, during which certain activities are limited. The length of that period differs by source and by whether the eclipse is solar or lunar. Printed almanacs state the duration they follow; this site notes the contact times clearly so you can apply your own community’s sutak rule.

Pregnant women and families with small children sometimes follow additional customary precautions; those are social and medical traditions, not something a panchang calculation can decide.

Eclipse pages use the same Swiss Ephemeris engine as the rest of the panchang to list solar and lunar eclipse contacts. City-specific visibility depends on coordinates and time zone. Where a page shows times for your selected city, those are the contacts in local clock time for that place.

The site does not prescribe personal ritual. It provides accurate timings so you can follow the guidance of your family, temple or priest.