A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun's light, and is often associated with various cultural superstitions. Many cultures believe that eclipses can bring misfortune, particularly for pregnant women, leading to practices such as staying indoors and throwing away food. Lunar eclipses are caused by the earth's shadow on the moon, and they also have their own set of beliefs and rituals, including bathing in holy rivers to cleanse oneself of evil spirits.

2. 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.

3. Solar EclipSE haSSolar EclipSE haS
bEEn traditionallybEEn traditionally
obSErvEd aS anobSErvEd aS an
ominouS Sign andominouS Sign and
thErEforEthErEforE
SupErStitionSSupErStitionS
abound inabound in
aSSociation withaSSociation with
thiS naturalthiS natural
phEnomEnon. phEnomEnon.

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

5. •Already the IndianAlready the Indian
astrologers areastrologers are
predicting doom andpredicting doom and
disaster as adisaster as a
consequence of theconsequence of the
solar eclipse not only insolar eclipse not only in
India , but in China andIndia , but in China and
the South Eastthe South East

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

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

8. Modern Day Superstitions :
Fear of Solar Eclipse still existFear of Solar Eclipse still exist
today . Many people around thetoday . Many people around the
world still see eclipses as evilworld still see eclipses as evil
omens that bring with themomens that bring with them
death, destruction and disaster .death, destruction and disaster .

9. A popular misconception is thatA popular misconception is that
Solar Eclipses can be danger toSolar Eclipses can be danger to
pregnant women and theirpregnant women and their
unborn child . In manyunborn child . In many
cultures , young children andcultures , young children and
pregnant women are asked topregnant women are asked to
stay indoors during solarstay indoors during solar
eclipses.eclipses.

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

11. • 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.

12. 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).

13. SOME HINDUS BELIEVE IN THE
IMPORTANCE OF BATHING IN THE
GANGES RIVER FOLLOWING AN
ECLIPSE BECAUSE IT WILL HELP YOU
RECEIVE SALVATION.

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

15. 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.

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

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

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

19. THE ESKIMOS TURN THEIR UTENSILSTHE ESKIMOS TURN THEIR UTENSILS
UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT IS A SUREUPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT IS A SURE
WAY TO STOP THE SICK SUN ANDWAY TO STOP THE SICK SUN AND
MOON FROM POISONINGMOON FROM POISONING
YOU BY SHINING THEIR RAYS AT THEYOU BY SHINING THEIR RAYS AT THE
CUTLERY.CUTLERY.

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

21. The moon was unable to repay
loan ….
• The imagination of the Munda tribes hailing fromThe imagination of the Munda tribes hailing from
Bihar and Bastar region in Madhya PradeshBihar and Bastar region in Madhya Pradesh
actually takes the cake.actually takes the cake.
They believe that the sun and the moonThey believe that the sun and the moon
take loans from a demon called ‘Dhanko’.take loans from a demon called ‘Dhanko’.

22. • Their failure to repay within theTheir failure to repay within the
scheduled period invites imprisonment byscheduled period invites imprisonment by
their creditors and therefore the sun andtheir creditors and therefore the sun and
the moon are not seen in the sky at theirthe moon are not seen in the sky at their
usual positions.usual positions.
• Hence they bring their utensils, rice, andHence they bring their utensils, rice, and
weapon to their courtyard in the beliefweapon to their courtyard in the belief
that sun and moon will accept these tothat sun and moon will accept these to
repay their debts to the demon therebyrepay their debts to the demon thereby
liberating the Mundas from the ghastlyliberating the Mundas from the ghastly
spectacle.spectacle.

23. •Dea Liz Alez
•Samriddhi Zita Bilung
•Nitika Chabra
•Mehak Girhotra
•Riya Dutta
Efforts by :