Lunar Eclipse 2025 marks "good time for charity", astrologer suggests
Millions to witness the Moon turning blood-red across the globe
Millions of people across the globe will witness the Moon changing to a blood-red color during a total lunar eclipse that will take place overnight on September 7 and 8. It is an annual spectacular event that is rare and breathtaking.
Indians will also be able to view the Moon turn into a red ball. This has led to the accommodation of religious practices and a Ganga Aarti ceremony was held in Varanasi before the eclipse.
Speaking to ANI, astrologer Pandit Purushottam Gaud said that the blood moon will be visible throughout the country on Sunday.
He also said that the lunar eclipse marks the start of the Shraddha Paksha, a ceremony that venerates ancestors. He described it as a charitable season, encouraging acts of giving and kindness during this celestial period.
“This is the largest of this year,” he noted. “This is the last complete lunar eclipse of the year and will be seen in most of the countries including India. It is unique from both an astronomical and astrological point of view.”
According to the Panchang, it begins at 9:58 pm, reaches its highest point between 11:41 pm and 1:27 am, and lasts approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes. The ‘Sutak’ period began at 12:58 pm.
This is the second lunar eclipse of 2025. The first took place in March earlier this year.
According to space scientist Dr. Suvendu Patnaik, the next total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3, 2026. He explained that this current eclipse will be visible to the naked eye throughout India provided the sky is clear. “It begins at approximately 9:37 pm, the Moon becomes fully covered by the shadow at 11 pm and turns red. The eclipse continues until 12:22 am,” he said.
He added that the next eclipse in 2026 will also be visible to the naked eye wherever skies are clear, making it another rare celestial event for stargazers.
Senior planetary engineer O.P. at Nehru Planetarium commented that the full lunar eclipse will peak at 11:48 pm and last for about 48 minutes. The eclipse will be visible across India, Pakistan, and China.
Gupta, another expert, clarified that the lunar eclipse can be safely viewed with the naked eye and there is no harm in eating or drinking during the phenomenon. He emphasized that the popular misconceptions about food spoiling or eyes being damaged during an eclipse are baseless myths.
This marks the second lunar eclipse of 2025, creating the mesmerizing blood-red Moon that continues to fascinate astronomers and sky watchers worldwide.
