File Pictures by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, Feb 27, 2026 (IMP): For the first time, on the day of ‘Yaoshang Meithaba Numit’ (burning of the straw hut) on 3rd March, sky gazers will be able to witness an awe-inspiring celestial event, as a total lunar eclipse (12 Phalguna, 1947 Saka Era) will occur in the evening.
The eclipse will begin in the evening at 15 hr 20 min IST and will end at 18 hr 48 min IST. Most places in India will observe the ending of the lunar eclipse at the time of moonrise, except some places in North-East India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the end of the totality phase of the eclipse will also be visible.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon appears dark red or orange because the Earth blocks most of the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon, and the light that does reach the lunar surface is filtered through Earth’s atmosphere.
The next lunar eclipse visible from India will occur on 6th July, 2028, and it will be a partial lunar eclipse. The last lunar eclipse visible from India was on 07–08 September, 2025, and it was a total lunar eclipse.
A lunar eclipse occurs on a full moon day when the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon, and all three objects are aligned. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the entire Moon comes under the Earth’s umbral shadow, while a partial lunar eclipse occurs when only a part of the Moon comes under the Earth’s shadow.