Couple Wed : Superstition did not Eclipse their Bliss
Chitradurga, Jan 15,( DHNS ): When things get tough, the tough get going. While most people preferred to be indoors fearing the ''ill-effects'' of the century's longest annular solar eclipse coming on Amavasya (new moon day), Nagaraj (24) and Spoorthi (23) decided to enter into wedlock.
Nagaraj, a Lingayat is a lab technician, while Spoorthi, a Dalit is a nurse at Basaveshwara hospital. A bit of drama unfolded before the marriage at a media office. Though the two were in love, the issue was put on fast-track only on Thursday night, with the two deciding to stay in a journalist's house.
After some discussion on the superstition surrounding the eclipse, the two decided to get married by exchanging garlands during the celestial event.
Moral support
Considering that the two belonged to different castes, and the families, particularly Spoorthi’s, were against their marriage, policemen and office bearers of various organisations, including Dalit leader M Jayanna and Basavamurthy Madara Chennaiah of Madar Gurupeeth were present to give moral support to the couple.
According to those present at the wedding, some relatives of the bride attempted to prevent the couple exchanging garlands with Nagaraj at 1.15 pm, at the height of the eclipse. The groom's parents were not present, fearing trouble, the sources added.
Finally blessings
However, some relatives of the groom, including the mother and brother, later came to bless the couple. The first thing the couple did after getting married was to watch the celestial event through Nebula glasses.
Media persons, who were present in good number, were busy, shooting pictures of the event. After the "marriage", sweets and snacks were served to those present. “There is nothing like inauspicious time. We should not believe in superstition,” Nagaraj said.
Bangalore : It was all eyes to the skies
It was a rare celestial treat for Bangaloreans on Friday morning, with thousands gazing up at the skies to witness the annular solar eclipse.
Although the eclipse path did not cross Bangalore, the moon covered 84.6 per cent of the sun.
Schoolchildren and college students dominated the crowd that thronged the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, where special arrangements had been made to show the annular solar eclipse in all its splendour.
The planetarium had installed five telescopes, 14 welders’ glasses, pin hole cameras, sun spotters along with regulation goggles to witness the eclipse. While brisk sale of solar goggles was seen all across the planetarium, some settled for the direct vision provided by the telescopes. Candy and popcorn sellers made a brisk sale on the street leading to the planetarium.
C S Shukre, Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, said more than 10,000 people visited the planetarium. “The timing of the solar eclipse and the cloudless sky gave a great opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts to watch clearly,” he said, a sentiment echoed by Visvesvaraya Industrial Technological Museum Director Vasudeva Bhatta.
At the Museum, schoolchildren Chamanthini, Tejaswini, Sanjana, Chaithali, Tejashree and Rachitha were all prepared for a practical class on the eclipse. Hundreds flocked to the museum during the eclipse hours.
While superstition kept many off the roads, 75-year-old Annapoorna was at the museum to watch the eclipse. "When I was young, we were not allowed to go outside during eclipse. Now parents bring their children to museums and planetariums to have a look at this great natural phenomena," she said.
On the eve of the eclipse, museum officials fielded hundreds of calls with inquiring about the possible effects of the eclipse. "Many called to find if they could eat during eclipse, pregnant women called to ask if they could go out," said Muthukumar, education officer at the museum.