March 3, 2026 will mark the first ‘Lunar Eclipse’ or ‘Chandra Grahan’ of the year. It is being touted as one of the most important days of the year from an astronomical perspective. Tonight, skywatchers across India will get a rare chance to look at a total lunar eclipse, also known as a “Blood Moon” as the Moon is all set to take on a deep red shade as it passes through Earth’s shadow. It’s a unique celestial event which also happens to coincide with the yearly festival of Holi.Let’s have a look at where it can be watched today.Up, above the world so high…When to look upAccording to official eclipse schedules:When will the eclipse begin: 3:20 PM IST (Indian Standard Time)When will the eclipse end: It ends by 6:46 – 6:48 PM IST.Total eclipse: The Moon will appear reddest roughly from 4:34 PM to 5:33 PM IST.Where to watch in India
Though the Moon will be seen after sunset in most parts of India, people will get a glimpse of the final stages of the Blood Moon. Some of the Best Viewing locations in India include:Two of the best viewing regions are the north-eastern states of India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.It is because sunset happens earlier in these regions. Moon lovers will get a golden opportunity to observe the deeper red glow of the Blood Moon.Best cities in Northeast India for total Lunar Eclipse viewing (Earlier viewing, around 5:15 PM – 5:24 PM):Guwahati (Assam) Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) Shillong (Meghalaya)City-wise moonrise timings: Kolkata – Around 5:39 PM IST, with the eclipse still active, this will give viewers up to an hour to watch the Moon.Nagpur & Chandrapur – Partial but noticeable moonrise from about 6:18 PM to 7:30 PM.Delhi & Lucknow – Around 6:20 – 6:30 PM IST; look towards the eastern horizon soon after sunset. 20 minutes window.Mumbai & Pune – Short visibility of 5–10 minutes before the eclipse ends.Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad – Partial eclipse for 10–30 minutes.Other Southern Cities (Coimbatore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram) – Since moonrise occurs close to the end time, the view is brief.People in India will be able to see the Moon in its red most for a short window (often between 15 – 45 minutes). Even a brief glimpse can be a lifetime experience. How to get the best viewFocus on east at sunset: That’s where the eclipsed Moon will be seen.No special equipment needed Lunar eclipses are considered safe to view with the naked eyeBinoculars or a telescope can enhance details.Tonight’s Blood Moon is not your normal event. It’s going to be a natural spectacle in decades as it coincides with the colourful festival of Holi.
