Kurukshetra to host solar eclipse fair today

The solar eclipse will be visible at Thanesar from 8:15 am to 10:55 am

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, December 25

Kurukshetra is all set to host the year’s last solar eclipse fair on Thursday. The mega fair is being held here after 10 years and the “surya grahan” will be visible from here from 8:15 am to 10:55 am.

The administration has divided Thanesar city into 20 sectors to maintain security. The Brahma Sarovar has been divided into six sectors, Sannihit Sarovar is being treated as one sector while the remaining city has been divided into 13 sectors.

Pilgrims have started reaching Kurukshetra to take a holy dip. The administration was expecting 15 lakh people and made arrangements accordingly, but seeing the current weather conditions the number is likely to be lower. The management and security will be taken care of by four IAS, six IPS and 13 HCS officers, besides over 5,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city. The administration has also made arrangements to give insurance cover to the visitors.

For the convenience of devotees, 12 welcome gates and 25 help desks have been set up. A temporary 15-bedded hospital has been established near Brahma Sarovar and 10 medical posts have been set up while 30 medical teams have been deployed.

Madan Mohan Chhabra, honorary secretary of the Kurukshetra Development Board, said: “The surya grahan fair is being held here for centuries. It is now being organised after 10 years.

Saints associated with different akharas have started reaching the city and the ‘shahi snan’ (royal bath) for saints will be organised at Yudhishtira Ghat of Brahma Sarovar. The next fair will be organised in June next year.”

Deputy Commissioner SS Phulia said: “All arrangements have been made and a master plan has been prepared for the surya grahan mela. Thirty teams with as many motor boats have been deployed at the sarovars. The arrangements for night stay have been made at the mela ground, Brahma Sarovar and dharmashalas. ” To maintain the traffic, 100 nakas have been put up, he added.

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