As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse is a type of eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks ("occults") the Sun. This can happen only at new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth in an alignment referred to as syzygy. In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured.

Solar Eclipse has been Solar Eclipse has been traditionally observed as traditionally observed as

an ominous sign and an ominous sign and therefore superstitions therefore superstitions abound in association abound in association

with this natural with this natural phenomenon. phenomenon. 

• • Depending on the culture, it is believed that during the Depending on the culture, it is believed that during the eclipse the sun is swallowed by demons, dragons or eclipse the sun is swallowed by demons, dragons or devilish dogs. devilish dogs. • Pregnant women have traditionally been coaxed to stay • Pregnant women have traditionally been coaxed to stay indoors and not to cut vegetables (and such like) if they indoors and not to cut vegetables (and such like) if they wanted healthy babies without congenital anomalies wanted healthy babies without congenital anomalies • Pregnant women are also prevented from sewing so • Pregnant women are also prevented from sewing so that they do not have deformed children that they do not have deformed children • People lock themselves indoors to avoid the bad rays • People lock themselves indoors to avoid the bad rays of the eclipsed sun of the eclipsed sun • Some people cleanse themselves in holy rivers during • Some people cleanse themselves in holy rivers during an eclipse an eclipse • There are many who do not cook on an eclipse day • There are many who do not cook on an eclipse day because they believe that germs abound during this because they believe that germs abound during this timetime 

•Already the Indian Already the Indian astrologers are predicting astrologers are predicting

doom and disaster as a doom and disaster as a consequence of the solar consequence of the solar

eclipse not only in India , but eclipse not only in India , but in China and the South Eastin China and the South East

Threat to monarchy :The eclipse in 1133AD was known as King The eclipse in 1133AD was known as King Henry’s Eclipse in Britain . When Henry I Henry’s Eclipse in Britain . When Henry I died shortly after the eclipse , it reaffirmed died shortly after the eclipse , it reaffirmed beliefs that the phenomenon was a bad beliefs that the phenomenon was a bad sign for monarchs . Babylonians placed sign for monarchs . Babylonians placed substitute kings on the throne during substitute kings on the throne during eclipses to protect eclipses to protect the real rulers .

Evil Spirits :•In some Hindu communities In some Hindu communities across Asia, they greet eclipses across Asia, they greet eclipses with the banging of pots and pans with the banging of pots and pans or Firewotks . To scare away the or Firewotks . To scare away the demon Rahu ..demon Rahu ..

Modern Day Superstitions :

Fear of Solar Eclipse still exist Fear of Solar Eclipse still exist today . Many people around the today . Many people around the world still see eclipses as evil world still see eclipses as evil omens that bring with them death, omens that bring with them death, destruction and disaster .destruction and disaster .

A popular misconception is that A popular misconception is that Solar Eclipses can be danger to Solar Eclipses can be danger to pregnant women and their pregnant women and their unborn child . In many cultures , unborn child . In many cultures , young children and pregnant young children and pregnant women are asked to stay indoors women are asked to stay indoors during solar eclipses.during solar eclipses.

In many parts of India , In many parts of India , people observe fasts during a people observe fasts during a Solar Eclipse due to the belief Solar Eclipse due to the belief that any food cooked while an that any food cooked while an eclipse happens will be eclipse happens will be poisonous and impure poisonous and impure ..

• A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its umbra (shadow). This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a full moon. The type and length of an eclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital nodes.

THE JIN CHAN LITERALLY KNOWN AS THE “GOLDEN FROG” OR “WEATH BECKONING TOAD” IS MOST COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE “MONEY TOAD”.THIS MYHTICAL CREATURE IS SAID TO APPEAR DURING THE FULL MOON,NEAR HOUSES OR BUSINESSES THAT WILL SOON RECEIVE GOOD NEWS(RELATED TO WEALTH).

SOME HINDUS BELIEVE IN THE

IMPORTANCE OF BATHING IN THE

GANGES RIVER FOLLOWING AN

ECLIPSE BECAUSE IT WILL HELP YOU

RECEIVE SALVATION.

•PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOU PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE A BATH BEFORE SHOULD TAKE A BATH BEFORE AND AFTER ECLIPSE TO WASH AND AFTER ECLIPSE TO WASH AWAY ANY EVIL SPIRITS.AWAY ANY EVIL SPIRITS.

IN INDIA IT IS BELIEVED THAT ALL LEFT OVER FOOD DURING AN ECLIPSE SHOULD BE THROWN AWAY OR GIVEN AWAY BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO EAT.

THERE IS THIS THING THAT THERE IS THIS THING THAT PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD NOT GO OUT DURING AN NOT GO OUT DURING AN ECLIPSE ,TO STOP THEM GIVING ECLIPSE ,TO STOP THEM GIVING BIRTH TO A BLIND ONE OR A BIRTH TO A BLIND ONE OR A ONE WITH A CLEFT LIP.ONE WITH A CLEFT LIP.

IT IS SAID THAT PREGNANT WOMAN IT IS SAID THAT PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULDN’T TOUCH HER BELLY DURING SHOULDN’T TOUCH HER BELLY DURING AN ECLIPSE ,DOING SO WILL CAUSE THE AN ECLIPSE ,DOING SO WILL CAUSE THE BABY TO ME BORN WITH A BIRTHMARK.BABY TO ME BORN WITH A BIRTHMARK.

TIBETAN BHIDDHISTS SAY THAT TIBETAN BHIDDHISTS SAY THAT DURING A LUNAR ECLIPSE,OUR DURING A LUNAR ECLIPSE,OUR ACTIONS,WHETHER GOOD OR BAD ACTIONS,WHETHER GOOD OR BAD ARE MULTIPLIED BY THOUSAND ARE MULTIPLIED BY THOUSAND FOLD.FOLD.

THE ESKIMOS TURN THEIR UTENSILS THE ESKIMOS TURN THEIR UTENSILS UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT IS A SURE UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT IS A SURE WAY TO STOP THE SICK SUN AND WAY TO STOP THE SICK SUN AND MOON FROM POISONINGMOON FROM POISONING

YOU BY SHINING THEIR RAYS AT THE YOU BY SHINING THEIR RAYS AT THE CUTLERY.CUTLERY.

IN INDIA YOU SHOULDN’T SLEEP WITH IN INDIA YOU SHOULDN’T SLEEP WITH YOUR HAIR OPEN DURING AN YOUR HAIR OPEN DURING AN ECLIPSE OR YOU MAY BECOME A ECLIPSE OR YOU MAY BECOME A LUNATIC!!!LUNATIC!!!

The moon was unable to repay loan ….

• The imagination of the Munda tribes hailing The imagination of the Munda tribes hailing from Bihar and Bastar region in Madhya from Bihar and Bastar region in Madhya Pradesh actually takes the cake.Pradesh actually takes the cake.

They believe that the sun and the moon They believe that the sun and the moon take loans from a demon called take loans from a demon called ‘Dhanko’.‘Dhanko’.

•Their failure to repay within the Their failure to repay within the scheduled period invites imprisonment scheduled period invites imprisonment by their creditors and therefore the sun by their creditors and therefore the sun and the moon are not seen in the sky at and the moon are not seen in the sky at their usual positions.their usual positions.

•Hence they bring their utensils, rice, and Hence they bring their utensils, rice, and weapon to their courtyard in the belief weapon to their courtyard in the belief that sun and moon will accept these to that sun and moon will accept these to repay their debts to the demon thereby repay their debts to the demon thereby liberating the Mundas from the ghastly liberating the Mundas from the ghastly spectacle.spectacle.

•Dea Liz Alez•Samriddhi Zita Bilung

•Nitika Chabra •Mehak Girhotra •Riya Dutta

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