A partial solar eclipse will be visible in India along with several other countries this morning.

This will be an annular solar eclipse that happens when the Moon covers the sun’s centre, leaving the sun’s visible outer edges to form a ‘ring of fire’ or annulus – around the moon.

In Delhi, the partial eclipse will begin at 8.17 am and will end at 10.56 am while the greatest eclipse will start at 9.30. The total duration of the eclipse will be 2 hours and 39 minutes.

However, the ring of fire will be visible only from places like Kannur in Kerala along with the southern coast of the country and will not be seen from other places in India.

Arrangements have been made in planetariums across the country for direct observation of partial eclipse through telescopes and special viewing glasses.

Devotees will be taking a holy dip in rivers and water pools across the country on the occasion of the solar eclipse. Over 15 lakh pilgrims from the country and abroad are likely to take a holy dip in Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra during the solar eclipse fair today.

Special security and safety arrangements have been made for the famous fair.

In Odisha, the state government has announced a holiday today in schools and colleges due to the eclipse.

This will be the last solar eclipse of the decade. Apart from India, the eclipse will be visible in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.