Clouds mar clear view of eclipse, temples shut in Andhra

Hyderabad, Jan 15 (IANS) Clouds marred a clear view of the millennium's longest annular solar eclipse in Andhra Pradesh Friday, disappointing enthusiastic onlookers. Temples were shut down during the eclipse.

The partial eclipse began at 11.30 a.m. in Hyderabad and other parts of the state and will end at 3.15 p.m.	 	
Sky gazers at Birla Planetarium and the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake here were disappointed as the clouds blocked the clear view of the celestial spectacle.	 	
The annular solar eclipse will be 77 percent in Hyderabad and 85 percent in Nellore.  Special arrangements were also made to view the event in Warangal, Kurnool, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and other towns.	 	
All major temples across the state, including the Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirupati, were shut for the eclipse. The temples which were closed early Friday will be re-opened after purification rituals in the evening.	 	
However, special prayers were held at Srikalahasti temple, which was not closed.	 	
Jana Vignan Vedika (JVV), a group of rationalists fighting against superstition, made special arrangements to view the solar eclipse at Tank Bund in the state capital. A large number of enthusiasts, including children, gathered to view the solar eclipse through special filters.	 	
JVV also arranged food for the people to remove the superstitious belief that taking food during eclipse could have harmful effects.