First solar eclipse of the year to last four and a half hours today, know its impact in India

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Today is the new moon day of the month of Phalgun. Devotees are bathing, donating, and performing puja on the occasion. It is also a special day from an astronomical perspective, as an annular solar eclipse is taking place. This type of eclipse is known as the "Ring of Fire" in scientific parlance. During this eclipse, the moon will cover approximately 96 percent of the sun.

According to astrological calculations, this solar eclipse is occurring in the zodiac sign of Aquarius and the constellation Dhanishtha. Eclipses are considered significant in the Sanatan tradition. Consequently, people have many questions: What is the timing of the eclipse? Will it be visible in India? Will the Sutak period be valid? Let's explore the answers to these questions.

Solar Eclipse Timings (Indian Standard Time):

Start: 3:26 PM

Peak: 5:13 PM to 6:11 PM

End: 7:57 PM

Total Duration: Approximately 4 hours 32 minutes

This solar eclipse will not be visible in India. This first solar eclipse of the year will be visible in Southern Africa, Antarctica, and several countries in South America. These include Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Mauritius, Botswana, Mozambique, Chile, and Argentina.

According to religious beliefs, the Sutak period begins 12 hours before a solar eclipse. However, the Sutak period is valid only if the eclipse is visible at the location. Since this solar eclipse will not be visible in India, the Sutak period will not be considered valid here. According to religious scriptures, the Sutak period is considered an inauspicious time. During this time, no pujas, rituals, or auspicious or auspicious activities are performed. It is believed that auspicious actions performed during the Sutak period will not yield their full results.