Haridwar, March 3 -- Devotees gathered in large numbers at the Ganga ghats in Haridwar on Tuesday morning to take a holy dip as the sutak kaal of the lunar eclipse commenced on Tuesday morning.

Hariom Vashishth from Rohtak said he had arrived a day earlier and completed the ritual bath before the eclipse began. He explained that a fast is observed during the sutak period, during which devotees refrain from drinking water, eating food, or performing any rituals. He added that the eclipse is scheduled from 3:20 pm to 6:47 pm, while the sutak period begins nine hours prior, leading to the closure of temple doors.

"We have been here since yesterday. We took a bath before the eclipse. There is a fast that is observed during the sutak period,...