Denradun, Sept. 7 -- Ahead of the nationwide lunar eclipse on Sunday night, the gates of Badrinath and Kedarnath temples, along with all subordinate shrines under the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), have been closed, as part of age-old religious traditions.

The closure began immediately after the commencement of the 'Sutak' period, which began nine hours before the start of the eclipse, at 12:58 pm. All temples remain closed until the end of the eclipse, the BKTC said.

According to Dr Harish Gaud, Media In-Charge of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), all shrines will reopen for devotees on the morning of September 8, following the purification rituals.

A lunar eclipse occurs only during the full moon pha...