Superstitions likely to eclipse solar spectacle

Renowned Sanskrit scholar K K Shastri said that there was scientific reason behind the Hindu belief of not eating anything on the day of eclipse. He said as the sun rays were covered by the moon, the atmosphere becomes polluted. Therefore, for the whole day 8212; about 12 hours of the day time 8212; people observe fast and do not eat any food in the polluted atmosphere. He said people pray during the eclipse period so that they did not indulge in any evil activity. He also said the same is done during Lunar Eclipse but the period of fast is only nine hours.

Pandit Shri Raman Sharma said that the solar eclipse occurs because Rahu and Ketu two demons of Indian Mythology swallow the sun. And people pray to the supreme god for early release of their sun god and do not eat anything as their god is in danger. He said people dispose the food and water once the eclipse is over because they become uneatable after the event.

Ibrahimbhai Dudhwala, trustee of Haibatkhan Mosque, said that Muslim women and children go home and men go to mosques to render Namaz at the time of eclipse. He further said the eclipse is a natural catastrophe8217; meted to the sun and people pray for early relief.

On the other hand, Father Cedric Prakash, who runs St Xavier8217;s Social Service Society in Ahmedabad, said it was one of the celestial happenings and a purely scientific phenomenon. He said the members of the social service society would pray a little more and nothing special. However, he said they would go to slums and try to educate people to get rid of many superstitionand the hazards of watching sun with naked eyes during eclipse.

But there is concern among people about the evil effects of solar eclipse. Jigar Shah, an MBA, said he would observe fast and would pray at his residence during the eclipse period. Saeed Khan said he would render namaz at a mosque during eclipse period. Saurin Shah, a computer engineer, said he would take leave on that day from his office and remain at home.

But there are also people who think otherwise. Arvind Shah, a university employee, said he would observe fast but would watch the solar eclipse after taking precautionary measures. Pragensh Patel, a computer engineer, said he would watch the sun during eclipse period and would eat also. He said if his parents would not allow him to eat at home he would go out and eat something to break the myth about evil effects of solar eclipse.