Contributed by: Harleen Kaur
Introduction
On Tuesday, October 25, a part of the Northern Hemisphere will witness a partial solar eclipse. The entire planet, including Europe, Northeast Africa, West Asia, and South Asia, will be able to see the eclipse. The eclipse will take place in India in the late afternoon.
A solar eclipse, usually referred to as Surya Grahan, occurs when the moon passes between the Sun’s and the Earth’s orbits. At this time, the moon completely obscures the sun, preventing its rays from reaching the earth.
When it comes to Hindu customs, an eclipse or Grahan is seen as an unlucky occurrence. Religious authorities believe that an eclipse has multiple negative effects on people and links Grahans to Hindu birth charts. Therefore, anytime a solar or lunar eclipse is predicted, they highly advise adhering to the Sutak norms.
In 2022, this solar eclipse will be the last one. Here is all the information you require about the cosmic phenomenon.
Even for a very short time, viewing the eclipsed Sun with the unaided eye is not recommended. Blindness will still ensue from irreversible eye damage, even if the Moon partially conceals the Sun.
Things you should do during an eclipse
- The best approach to see the solar eclipse safely is to either use the appropriate filter, such as aluminized Mylar, black polymer, or welding glass of shade number 14 or to use a telescope to project the image of the Sun onto a whiteboard.
- NASA recommends eye protection before even looking up at the sky during a solar eclipse.
- During the eclipse, make sure your vehicle’s headlights are on while driving.
- The practice of taking a bath after the Grahan was long practised in most Indian homes.
- Women who are expecting should stay indoors to protect themselves from the sun.
Things you should avoid during an eclipse
- It is never a good idea to use regular sunglasses in place of eclipse or solar viewing glasses.
- It is not advised to go outside to view the eclipse or to look at the Grahan with bare eyes.
- Last but not least, cover the windows with curtains to prevent sunlight from entering the home.
Final thoughts
Today’s expected Surya Grahan, or partial solar eclipse, will begin at about 4.28 pm and last until 5.28 pm. The Sutak will therefore be in effect from 12.05 am to 5.42 pm.
Sutak is the term for the fasting period Hindus follow during an eclipse. Beginning a few hours before the Grahan and continuing till the end of the eclipse, it is a set of rules that practising Hindus must adhere to.
To prevent eye damage, scientists advise anyone planning to view the eclipse to avoid looking straight at the Sun, even through clouds.
Experts predict that at the time of the maximum eclipse, which will be visible in India, the moon would cover 40–50% of the sun.
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Source: HEALTHIANS
