Chennai, January 15: Thousands of people today watched a rare celestial event at the southern tip of the country — Kanyakumari and Dhanushkodi near Rameshwaram — where the noon turned into dusk for a while as the moon partially covered the sun creating a ring of fire.
Scientific community from various parts of the country converged at the two places to study the longest solar eclipse, that occurred after 110 years, of the millennium.
Thousands had a holy dip in the Bay of Bengal at Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram, the famous places of pilgrimage, while temples across the state were closed during the eclipse.
There was a mixed response among people in the state to the eclipse, which occurred during the pongal festival, with “superstitious” beliefs making most senior citizens stay indoors while the younger generation went about their regular activities.
–Agencies