Total lunar eclipse on March 3 to be visible across India with totality from 4.34 pm to 5.33 pm
New Delhi: A total lunar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 which will begin at 3.20pm IST and end at 6.48pm IST, according to a notification published by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
According to The Hindu, the eclipse will be visible from most parts of India. It's totality will occur between 4.34 and 5.33 p.m. IST, when the Moon is entirely immersed in the Earth's deepest shadow.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon during a full moon. It casts its shadow on the lunar surface. During totality, the Moon appears red due to a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering. During this phenomenon shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more strongly by the Earth’s atmosphere, allowing the longer red wavelengths to reach and illuminate the Moon.
According to the India Meteorological Department, most of the country will view the eclipse's last phase at moonrise. However, in areas of the Northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the end of the complete phase will be evident. Cities include Chennai and Kanniyakumari are anticipated to see the eclipse for up to 31 minutes.
There are three distinct forms of lunar eclipses. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon enters the Earth's umbra and may seem scarlet. A partial eclipse happens when a section of the Moon passes through the Earth's darkest shadow. A penumbral eclipse happens when the Moon crosses into the Earth's feeble outer shadow, resulting in a slight reducing that is occasionally difficult to see with the human eye.
The last lunar eclipse visible from India occurred on September 7-8, 2025, and it was also a total eclipse. The next partial lunar eclipse viewable from India will occur on July 6-7, 2028, with the next total lunar eclipse set for December 31, 2028.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
