New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined thousands of enthusiasts to witness annual solar eclipse, the last spectacular, celestial treat of the decade on Thursday. PM Modi took to Twitter to share his experience. “Like many Indians, I was enthusiastic about #solareclipse2019. Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts,” PM Modi said on the micro-blogging site. Along with the tweet, PM Modi also posted three pictures.
PM Modi ditched his usual kurta-pyjama look and was seen dressed in casual cardigan and trouser. In the photos, PM Modi can be seen watching the solar eclipse by special solar view goggles. In another photo, PM Modi is seen interacting with the experts. The third photo shows him watching the ‘ring of fire’ via live stream.
Like many Indians, I was enthusiastic about #solareclipse2019.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2019
Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts. pic.twitter.com/EI1dcIWRIz
The rare spectacle was first visible at Cheruvathoor in Kasaragod, followed by places in Kozhikode and Kannur. In Wayanad, there was disappointment as the annular eclipse was not visible due to clouds. Various temples, including the famous Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple, Padmanabha Swamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram and the Lord Krishna temple at Guruvayur were closed during the solar eclipse and are expected to open after purification rites. Payasam and breakfast was distributed in Kozhikode during the four-hour eclipse to dispel myths about abstaining from food and celebrate the occasion.
Thursday's eclipse was visible in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. Population centers in the path of the annularity include Udhagamandalam, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Singapore, Singkawang and Guam.
An annular solar eclipse takes place when the moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than that of the Sun’s and blocks most of the Sun’s light. This causes the Sun to look like a ring (annulus) of fire, Debiprosad Duari, the Director, Research and Academic of MP Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, MP Birla Planetarium, said.
