Planning for Vrindavan Holi 2026? This Lunar Eclipse Might Just Change Your Plans:

If you’ve ever been to Vrindavan during Holi, you know the energy is unlike anything else in the world. However, if you’re planning to visit the Banke Bihari Temple on March 3, 2026, there’s a major celestial event you need to keep on your radar.

This year, a Total Lunar Eclipse (Chandra Grahan) is set to coincide with the festivities of Holi. Because of the Sutak—the period before an eclipse when religious activities are traditionally paused—the temple management has announced a significant shift in the usual timings.

What’s Changing? Usually, the temple is packed with people playing with colors, but on March 3rd, the doors will open much earlier than usual to accommodate devotees before the eclipse begins.

The New Schedule (Mark Your Calendar):

Early Morning Opening: The temple will open its gates at 6:15 AM.

Quick Rituals: The Shringar Aarti is scheduled for 6:25 AM, followed immediately by the Rajbhog Seva at 6:30 AM.

The Early Close: To ensure everything is wrapped up before the Sutak period starts, the Rajbhog Aarti will happen at 8:30 AM, and the temple will close its gates by 9:00 AM.

Why the rush? According to the priests, the Sutak period begins roughly 9 hours before the actual eclipse. During this time, the temple remains closed, and the deity is not offered any food or "Seva." The eclipse itself will take place in the afternoon, starting around 3:20 PM and lasting until 6:47 PM.

Evening Reopening Once the eclipse is over and the purification rituals (cleansing of the temple) are completed, the doors will reopen for a short window in the evening from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

A Tip for Travelers If your heart is set on seeing Banke Bihari on this specific day, you’ll need to be an early bird. The morning window is very short, and the crowds will likely be intense. Most of the heavy "Gulal" and color celebrations in the temple are expected to shift to March 4th to avoid clashing with the eclipse restrictions.

Holi in Braj is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and while the eclipse adds a bit of a logistical challenge, it also makes the 2026 celebrations quite rare and spiritually significant. Just make sure to adjust your travel plans so you don't find yourself standing in front of closed gates!