First Surya Grahan Of 2026: 'Ring Of Fire' To Appear Today; India Will Miss The Show

New Delhi: The first solar eclipse of the year 2026 is going to take place on Tuesday. This is a rare cosmic event for the people, who always love to witness these types of events. But many sky watchers living in India will feel disappointed as they would not be able to watch this here.

What is the start and end time?

The most powerful day to perform various spiritual and religious activities is going to occur on Amavasya tithi and according to Indian Standard Time, the solar eclipse will start from 3:26 pm and end at 7:58 pm but Indians will not be able to witness this.

What is Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the Sun's light in some areas.

This time period, is known as Sutak Kaal, and according to Hindu traditions, it is  an inauspicious period and no auspicious activities should be done during this time. 

But this will not be witnessed by the Indians, so there will be no Sutak Kaal. 

What to do during Solar Eclipse?

Religious texts state that the following methods can be adopted at home during the eclipse if you are living out of India:

• Do not eat during solar eclipse
• Maintain peace at home and avoid noise
• Focus on prayer, meditation and mental peace
• Such actions have been described as the path of “purification” which helps in reducing the effects of the eclipse.

What to do after the eclipse?

After the eclipse ends, the tradition of bathing and purification is performed. After this, performing puja in temples is considered auspicious. Devotees believe that the rituals performed after the eclipse provide mental and spiritual peace.

What is the scientific aspect of an eclipse?

From a scientific point of view, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, due to which a part or the entire part of the Sun appears hidden from the Earth. During this period, darkness spreads in the atmosphere and the temperature drops. Along with religious beliefs, its astronomical explanation has also existed since ancient times.