Karnataka   

Rain eclipses celestial phenomenon

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

ECLIPSE FALLOUT: A rare sight near the Vidhana Soudha, when the otherwise busy roads were deserted during Friday’s partial solar eclipse.

Bangalore: While the apprehensive stayed put at home on Friday, ensuring a distinct easing of the traffic in the city, the more rational-minded thronged the planetarium to watch the partial solar eclipse.

But sadly, it was a no show: not even a hint of the eclipse was visible through the thick monsoon clouds and incessant drizzle.

Students, teachers and amateur astronomers who had arrived at the planetarium well before 4.42 p.m., when the eclipse was to take place, had to make do with a computer simulation of an eclipse projected on a screen indoors.

Because of the constant variation in cloud cover, there was not even a tangible darkening of the sky, observed Jagdev Singh, senior professor, Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

“It is, however, only when the eclipse is more than 60 per cent that the sky darkens significantly. This time it was only a 30 per cent eclipse of the sun,” he said.

Sudhiksha, a class eight student from Sishu Griha, one among a group of 15 students who had turned up from her school, was vocal about her disappointment. “I was really looking forward to it… I saw the eclipse at the planetarium last year and it was spectacular.”

Senior officer at the planetarium B.S. Shailaja was “equally disappointed”, she said. “We had arranged for telescopes for the public.” However, the reflective telescopes idled outside. After over an hour of anxious peering at the skies and having run through the exhibition and checked out the machine that told them their weight on all the planets of the solar system for Rs. 5, the young enthusiasts got restless and dispiritedly headed home.

Many of Sudhiksha’s classmates left school early, but for different reasons.

“Many of them were worried about what the ill effects of the eclipse may be,” she said. Oddly enough, several schools in the city let the children off early.

A teacher in a school in south Bangalore, by way of justification, said the school was only being cautious and wanted to ensure that the children did not look at the sun and risk corneal damage.

Traffic had substantially reduced in the afternoon and evening, with many parts of the city’s commercial centres looking almost desolate. While the more unquestioning left work early to have a customary bath before the eclipse started, others decided to forego their food during the hour-long event.

Most shops and eateries remained closed considering there was not much business.

In a mark of defiance against the irrational beliefs associated with the cosmic phenomenon, puffed rice was distributed to the public by the National College during the eclipse. The programme was organised by Bangalore Science Forum founded by the late H. Narasimhaiah. National College Principal M. Leelavathi told The Hindu that she was concerned that the media had given such extensive coverage to astrologers and godmen “who are misleading the public and creating fear among them.”

This event aims at helping people understand the scientific process behind the eclipse, she said.

H. Rama Rao, president of the college, said that Narasimhaiah had organised this programme 25 years ago to inculcate a scientific bent of mind among the people. But things had changed, said Mr. Rao.

“Some 40 years ago restaurants and shops would be closed on days of the eclipse. It is not so now, and this is proof of greater awareness,” he said.

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