Lucknow/Taregana (Bihar), July 22
Hundreds of astrophysicists and other scientists who had gathered from across the world to witness the rare total solar eclipse in Taregana in Bihar missed out on the spellbinding view that the crowds enjoyed in Varanasi. The clear skies made it possible for nature’s diamond ring to be visible when the moon completely covered the sun for a few minutes at dawn today.

Chasing an eclipsed sun

This multiple exposure image shows the various stages of the solar eclipse near Guwahati. — AFP photo

However, in Taregana the eclipse watchers felt let down by the weather gods. Thick clouds and an overcast sky played spoilsport for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who had assembled in this small town, 35 km south of Patna, to watch the much-hyped total solar eclipse. Many walked away disappointed but others appeared thrilled to experience the dawn breaking into a dark night, if only for a few minutes today morning.

A woman devotee observes the solar eclipse through her self-made equipment while taking a holy dip at Sangam in Allahabad on Wednesday. — PTI

People observe the solar eclipse through telescopes in Ahmedabad. — PTI

A Nihang observes the eclipse at Jalandhar. — PTI

Bad weather at Taregana, 35 km from Patna, was a damper for eclipse gazers on Wednesday. Photo: Deepak Kumar

For a moment the sky changed so abruptly that the sea of humanity that had descended on this nondescript town were confounded by the complete darkness enveloping the area after the bright light of dawn.

One could hear the loud shrieks and lights were switched on in every home. Thousands of vehicles were stuck in a massive traffic jam and drivers had to turn their headlights on. Some street dogs began to howl in a strange manner; crows and other birds could be seen scurrying back to their nests.

Earlier rain and an overcast sky had dampened the spirits of the visitors who had gathered in Taregana on Tuesday night itself to witness what had been touted as the biggest celestial event of the century.

However, their hopes were kept alive by the statement of NASA scientists that one could have the longest and clearest view of the total solar eclipse in Taregana.

A ten-member team of scientists from SPACE, a Delhi based NGO coordinating the event, was present along with some observers from Belgium and Namibia.

They had set up various telescopes and other equipment to record the event. The state’s administrative machinery as well as security personnel were on their toes till the spectacle ended and the crowds began to recede.

In Varanasi visitors from across the country as well as from abroad had assembled in large numbers to witness the rare celestial event, armed with telescopes, binoculars and special goggles.

A team from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, set up sophisticated equipment to observe the eclipse in totality from here. "As the day dawned there was some apprehension the eclipse might not be visible. However, as the sun rose the celestial phenomenon was quite clearly visible," said RC Kapoor, one of the institute’s scientists.

On the other side thousands who considered the event “auspicious’ had gathered on the city’s ghats to take a dip in the Ganges river during the eclipse.