NEW DELHI (XINHUA) - A partial solar eclipse was witnessed on Thursday (Dec 26) in many Indian states, officials said.

According to astronomers, Thursday's phenomenon was an annular solar eclipse, which occurs 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 the capital of New Delhi, the partial eclipse began at 8.17am local time and ended at 10.56am.

However, the ring of fire was visible only from places like Kannur in Kerala state, along with the southern coast of the country.

An official had said the total duration of the eclipse would be 2hr 39min.

Apart from New Delhi, the partial eclipse was visible from parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Odisha.

Officials had made arrangements in planetariums across the country for direct observation of the celestial event through telescopes and special viewing glasses.

Experts advised skywatchers to use safe viewing equipment, as the infrared and ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause severe retinal damage.

In Odisha, the state government announced a holiday in educational institutions and government offices in the wake of the solar eclipse.

According to state-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR), Hindu devotees will be taking a holy dip in rivers and water pools across the country on the occasion of the solar eclipse.

"Over 1.5 million pilgrims from the country and abroad are likely to take a holy dip in Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra (Haryana) during the solar eclipse fair today," the broadcaster said.

Apart from India, the eclipse was visible in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.