Thaindian News

Hyderabad, July 22 (IANS) A group of rationalists gathered here Wednesday morning to not just watch the longest solar eclipse of the century but also tuck into breakfast in an attempt to remove superstitious beliefs from the minds of people.
While the dark clouds blocked the view of the partial eclipse, they went ahead with their meal on the banks of the picturesque Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city to prove a point.

The participants, including women and children, had the breakfast arranged by Jana Vignan Vedika (JVV), a group of rationalists fighting against superstition.

“We want to prove that taking food during eclipse will have no harmful effects as claimed by some persons who are spreading superstitious beliefs among people,” said JVV convenor T.V. Rao.

“A solar eclipse is a celestial event. It is a beautiful sight and in no way affects us if we take food or do some other work,” said Rao.

The JVV had made arrangements for people to watch the celestial event in order to instil them with a scientific temperament. However, they were left disappointed by the clouds.

Rationalists organised similar programmes in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Warangal and dismissed claims of some astrologers that the some natural calamity like a tsunami would occur.

The rumours had created panic in some coastal villages in Nellore district and high tidal waves due to cyclonic storm in Bay of Bengal only added to fears. However, district authorities swung into action to restore normalcy and allay their apprehensions.

The scientists too dismissed the rumours of a tsunami. “This is rubbish. The eclipse does not cause any natural calamity,” said B.G. Siddharth, director of the B.M. Birla Science Centre.