TIRUPATI, INDIA, January 20, 2009: The hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala Tirupati will be closed on January 26 due to Suryagrahanam, a partial solar eclipse on that day. The temple will be closed from 6 am to 6 pm. All Sevas in the Srivari Temple including Suprabhatam, Thomala, Archana, Archana Anantara Darshan will not be performed. January 26, the Republic Day of India, is a public holiday and the plans of many devotees will be affected.
The temple will open only after the purification rituals are performed inside the sanctum sanctorum to rid the evil effects of eclipse.