India to witness rare Blood Moon on Sept 7-8; total lunar eclipse coincides with Pitru Paksha Purnima | Know dos and donts

Blood Moon:  India is set to witness one of the most spectacular astronomical events of the decade—a total lunar eclipse, popularly known as a Blood Moon—on the night of September 7-8, 2025. This marks the second and final lunar eclipse of the year and promises an unforgettable visual treat for sky-watchers across the nation.

The celestial event will begin around 8.57 pm IST, with the striking Blood Moon phase unfolding between 11 pm and 12.22 am on September 8. The phenomenon will last for about 82 minutes, during which the Moon will appear in a deep crimson shade as the Earth’s shadow falls upon it.

Apart from India, the eclipse will also be visible in regions of Europe, Africa, eastern Australia, and New Zealand. However, it will not be observable from North and South America.

What makes this eclipse particularly significant is its coincidence with Pitru Paksha Purnima, a sacred day in Hindu tradition dedicated to honouring ancestors. For many, the occurrence adds a spiritual dimension to the spectacle, with rituals, fasting, and prayers being observed across households.

Traditional beliefs: Sutak and fasting

In Hindu customs, the period before and during an eclipse, known as Sutak, is considered spiritually sensitive. Sutak typically begins nine hours prior to the total eclipse and ends once the event is over. During this time, many families refrain from eating, cooking, or performing auspicious activities, instead devoting themselves to introspection and prayer.

Temples remain closed during the eclipse and reopen only after purification rituals. Fasting is especially emphasised, with the belief that it keeps the body light, alert, and energetically balanced.

Spiritual leader Sadhguru, in a blog for the Isha Foundation (2015), described a lunar eclipse as a period where energy cycles normally spread over 28 days are compressed into just two to three hours. He explained that in this heightened state, cooked food deteriorates quickly:

“Certain things happen in the planet where anything that has moved away from its natural condition will deteriorate very fast. This is why while there is no change in raw fruits and vegetables, there is a distinct change in the way cooked food is before and after the eclipse. What was nourishing food turns into poison.”

As a result, pregnant women, children, and the elderly are often advised to avoid food and stay indoors until the eclipse ends. These practices, rooted in cultural and religious tradition, continue to be followed in many households across India.

What science says

From a scientific perspective, however, lunar eclipses are completely harmless. Astronomers emphasise that eclipses pose no threat to human health, nor do they cause any chemical changes in food.

According to Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, Head of Science Communication, Public Outreach and Education (SCOPE) Section at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, a lunar eclipse is nothing more than Earth’s shadow crossing the Moon—a stunning but natural occurrence. Observers can safely watch the eclipse, eat, and carry on normal activities without concern.