The year 2025 is expected to witness its first Chandra Grahan on March 14, which will occur on the day of the festival of Holi. However, this beautiful event will not be visible in India. This raises questions about the religious aspect of the Chandra Grahan: will Sutak be observed during Holika Dahan for this? Here, we will discuss the specifics of the celestial phenomena and their cultural relevance.
What is a Lunar Eclipse?
This happens when the earth lies between the sun and moon and hence the shadow of the earth starts falling on the moon. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is completely covered under the earth’s shadow: it is termed as a Blood Moon because the moon takes on a reddish hue due to this phenomenon. It is a show of nature, a sight to witness, and for centuries has left curiosities in human thoughts.
Chandra Grahan 2025: Key Details
March 14 will be the date when the first lunar eclipse happens in the year 2025. Besides being a day of Holi, here are the timings that come along with it (Indian Standard Time):
- Eclipse Start Time: 9:27 AM
- Eclipse End Time: 12:28 PM
- Complete End of Eclipse: 3:30 PM
While the eclipse can be seen in regions like Australia, West Africa, Europe, North and South America, as well as some areas of the ocean, it will be invisible from India. This is because the event occurs during the daylight hours, and at that time the moon is not visible from our country.
A Sutak Period Impact on Holika Dahan?
The Sutak period is considered inauspicious because it extends for 9 hours before and after an eclipse, during which cooking, worship, and any other religious rituals are avoided. However, the big exception is that Sutak is locally feared only in places where the eclipse is visible.
The lunar eclipse of 2025 will not be visible in India, so Sutak will not apply. This means Holi and Holika Dahan could be observed in the former’s full glory. People could bring their families to congregate around the pyre, perform their rituals and enjoy the festivities, swinging up and down.
What Holi and Holika Dahan Stand for
Holi, the festival of colors, denotes that good finally wins against evil, and spring is around the corner. Holika Dahan is enacted the night before Holi, where a bonfire is lit to symbolize the victory of devotion and righteousness over arrogance and malice. With no Sutak period, the celebrations in all such events unfold without any interruptions, leaving it up to the devotees to indulge in all merriment that the festival brings.
