Don't miss your date with century's longest Lunar Eclipse on July 27
New Delhi, July 26 : If you missed the trilogy of supermoons earlier this year, the Lunar eclipse -- the longest of the 21st century -- set to occur on Friday, will offer you a rare celestial treat.
The celestial spectacle, which would be seen in its entirety from all parts of India, last for 1 hour 43 minutes, making it the longest total lunar eclipse of this century (2001 AD to 2100 AD), the Ministry of Earth Science had said.
The partial eclipse of the Moon will begin at 11.54 p.m. on July 27. The Moon will be gradually covered by the Earth's shadow and the totality phase will begin at 1 a.m. IST on July 28 and the total eclipse will last upto 2.43 a.m.. Then the Moon will start to gradually come out of Earth's shadow and partial eclipse will end at 3.49 a.m., the statement said.
During this eclipse, the Moon will pass through the central part of the Earth's umbral shadow. Furthermore, the Moon will be at apogee -- farthest from the Earth in its orbit, on July 27 and will be moving at a slower speed in its orbit.
This slower moving full Moon will take longer time and greater distance of Earth's umbral shadow cone to travel, making it the longest duration of total eclipse of this century.
Such long duration of total lunar eclipses had earlier occurred on July 16, 2000 for totality duration of 1 hour 46 minutes and another one on June 15, 2011 for totality duration of 1 hour 40 minutes, the statement said.
Moreover, the Sun and Mars will also lie opposite to each other, keeping the Earth in the middle.
This will result in Mars coming close to the Earth, causing it to appear brighter than normal and it will be seen from evening to dawn towards the end of July.
The brighter Mars will remain very close to the eclipsed Moon in the sky on July 27-28 and can be spotted very easily with the naked eye, the statement said.
The eclipse will be visible in parts of South America, much of Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. For viewers in India, the eclipse, both partial and the total, will be visible in its entirety from all parts of the country.
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Suspend Waqf Act, reconsider provisions: Mayawati to Centre
Lucknow, Apr 10 (PTI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday asked the Centre to reconsider the provisions in the new Waqf law and suspend it for the time being.
Mayawati noted that the recently passed Act's provision of including non-Muslims in the Waqf Board prima facie does not appear good.
"The provision allowing a non-Muslim to be a part of the State Waqf Board appears to be wrong and the Muslim community is also raising objections to it. It would be better if the central government reconsidered and suspended the Waqf Act to reform other similar controversial provisions," Mayawati told select news agencies in Lucknow on Thursday.
Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on April 4 after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate.
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha on April 3, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it. President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Bill on April 5.
Mayawati further said like the long-standing demand of Buddhist monks and followers for the sole control over the management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the Muslim community too has raised genuine concerns about external interference in their religious matters.
"The BSP demands that the Centre immediately halt the implementation of the Waqf Act and address the concerns through necessary amendments. Just as Buddhists have protested the Mahabodhi Temple Management Act of 1949 -- enacted during the Congress era -- Muslims are also justified in opposing unnecessary interference in their religious affairs," she said.
Referring to the 1949 Bodh Gaya Temple Act, Mayawati pointed out that it allows for a management committee comprising four Hindus and four Buddhists, chaired by the district magistrate.
"This very structure is discriminatory and inappropriate, and a violation of the secular spirit of the Indian Constitution," she said.
"The Mahabodhi temple is a revered pilgrimage site for Buddhists across the world. Its management and religious duties should rest solely with Buddhist monks and followers. Government interference has led to tension and dissatisfaction among the Buddhist community," Mayawati added.
Drawing parallels, she said religious autonomy and management should lie with those who follow the faith.
"Whether it's the Waqf Board or the Bodh Gaya Temple, government interference, especially by members of other religions, creates avoidable disputes. The government must ensure that religious institutions are managed by those who practice the faith," she asserted.
Mayawati appealed to the NDA governments at the Centre and in Bihar to amend the Bodh Gaya Temple Act in accordance with constitutional secularism and the long-standing demands of the Buddhist community.
She reiterated the BSP's position that all religious communities should be given the autonomy to manage their religious institutions.
"Governments must shed political motives and act strictly according to the Constitution when dealing with religious issues. It is in the best interest of the nation," she said.
