LIVE TV
Odisha
Recommended Stories
Bhubaneswar: With only a few hours left for the rare annular solar eclipse tomorrow, people across Odisha are all geared up to witness the celestial phenomenon.
From telescopes to special eye glasses, protective devices have been kept for visitors at the Pathani Samanta Planetarium and APJ Abdul Kalam Planetarium in Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur, respectively.
“Nobody should watch the solar eclipse in naked eyes. People should only see the reflection of the entire process. We have made all arrangements here so that people can experience this rare eclipse,” said Subhendu Patnaik, Deputy Director of Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar.
According to experts, the eclipse will start at 8:20:08 AM Indian Standard Time tomorrow. At 9:46 AM, a maximum 55 to 65percent eclipse will be witnessed in the State and around 11:29 AM, the process will end.
For nearly 3 hours and 9 minutes, the entire process will continue. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between earth and the sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the sun for a viewer on earth.
An annular solar eclipse takes place when the moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than sun and blocks most of its light. This causes sun to look like a ring (annulus) of fire.
On the other hand, some special rituals will be held at Puri Srimandir, but no regular rituals will be affected due to the solar eclipse. After ceremonial bathing of the deities, ‘Khai Kora’ bhoga and later ‘Pahili Bhoga’ will be offered which will be subsequently followed by other rituals.
“There is a ritual to take bath before and after the eclipse. Even the Lord will go through the same. Apart from that, a special bhog will be offered,” said Jagannath culture researcher, Surya Narayan Rath Sharma.
Meanwhile, rationalists have objected to the belief that during the time of the eclipse people should refrain from eating food, cooking, drinking water and moving outdoors.
“There shouldn’t be any restrictions on eating as sun is one for the entire world. If rest of the world is not following such rules, there is no logic that we alone will be affected,” said rationalist, Debendra Sutar.
