Lunar eclipse 2021 in India — date, time and the Sutak period

• The 2021 calendar has two lunar eclipses. The first lunar eclipse for the year will happen on May 26, 2021 and the second one will happen on November 19, 2021.
• The lunar eclipse on May 26 will be a total lunar eclipse visible from eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and much of the Americas. This lunar eclipse will also combine with it a supermoon and a red blood moon.
• Some of the interesting aspects connected to the May 26 lunar eclipse will be visible from India.

Chandra Grahan or lunar eclipse is a very interesting celestial event that appears when the Moon moves through the shadow cast on it by the Earth. Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses have astronomical as well as astrological significance. Hence sky viewers and believers in astrology attach a lot of importance to these events.

Date and time of the first lunar eclipse of 2021

The first lunar eclipse of 2021 will happen on May 26, 2021. In India, the total lunar eclipse on this day will start at 02:17 p.m. and end at 07:19 p.m.

Explaining about the May 26, 2021 eclipse, Debiprasad Duari an astro-physicist and director of MP Birla Planetarium said, “On the night of May 26, the Sun, Earth and Moon will be aligned in a way that the Full Moon will also be eclipsed for some time as viewed from Kolkata. The moon on its journey around the earth will be passing through the earth’s shadow and will be totally eclipsed.” As per the astrophysicist, the partial eclipse of the moon will begin around 03:15 p.m. and end at 06:22 p.m. in Kolkata.

From where the eclipse can be seen

People living in India, South Asia, east Asia, Australia, and much of North America, South America, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Antarctica will be able to see the lunar eclipse of May 26. Just after the lunar eclipse, a red blood moon and supermoon will also be visible from India.

The best locations to watch the May 26 lunar eclipse are the east coast of Asia and the west coast of the Americas. People in the eastern half of the US will only be able to see the beginnings of this eclipse as the Moon will set in these locations soon after the eclipse starts.

During the total lunar eclipse in 2021, the Moon will be much below the eastern horizon. Therefore, people cannot see the beginning of this eclipse from India. Sky viewers living in eastern India can see the concluding phase of the May 26 lunar eclipse which will be seen very close to the eastern horizon.

Will the Sutak period be applicable to this eclipse in India?

Astrology recommends Sutak period for solar and lunar eclipses. This means a set of regulations advised for the period of eclipse. The dos and don’ts recommended for a lunar eclipse must start around 9 hours before the start of the eclipse. The May 26 eclipse will not be visible for the naked eyes from India. Hence, the Sutak period is not applicable for this eclipse.

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