Madcaljan21’s Blog

Recently there was a great Solar eclipse on Jan 15, the longest solar eclipse after 1992. My parents and in- laws called me and were worried about this. They were worried because they are not allowed to eat anything between 6.30 am – 3.30 pm. There is tradition in my family, when ever there is an eclipse they will not eat anything until the eclipse is over. They will place Neem leaves on all the edible stuffs.After the eclipse they will take head bath, sprinkle holy water on all the places and then start with the regular work. May be there is this reason,why my family is following such a tradition. When sunlight is lesser there will be lot of possibilities for bacteria and viruses to grow.  Neem leaves and turmeric water would purify all the substances of the bacteria and virus. They take bath to get rid off all the impurities from their body.

Apart from this, the myth about solar eclipses would be funnier to hear. Once when I was a small child one of my neighbor would say solar eclipse occurs  because a snake would swallow the sun. As a small child I would look up to see a snake and finally make sure that the snake was hiding behind the cloud. This is interesting to look back now.  One of our helper would say the God’s are dancing in front of the sun , hiding the sun from us. Wow but why are we not able to hear the song though.  The same person stated another definition for earth quake ” Earthquake occurs because the Mother earth would shift the earth from left hand to right hand”. Myself and my dad would laugh out loud for this, but still I loved her innocence.  Whatever science may be at the background for such natural process, it is spicier with these petty stories and myths!!