KATHMANDU: A solar eclipse is occurring today, but it will not be visible from Nepal.

According to the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti (Calendar Determination Committee), the eclipse will have no effect in Nepal, and therefore, no Sutak (ritual restriction) will be applied.

The committee clarified that since the solar eclipse cannot be seen from Nepal, as per traditional belief, there will be no Sutak period in the country.

According to Prof. Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, scriptures state that an eclipse not visible in the Nepali sky does not require Nepalis to observe it.

Today’s solar eclipse will be visible only from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and parts of Antarctica. On September 7, a total lunar eclipse was visible at night.

Solar eclipses occur during Amavasya (new moon), while lunar eclipses occur during Purnima (full moon). When the Earth, Moon, and Sun align in a straight line, eclipses take place.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow, while a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth.