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Millions Watch Longest Solar Eclipse Of The Century
Millions across Asia watched the longest solar eclipse of the century, marking the occasion in some places with fireworks and dancing.
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TOKYO, Japan (July 22, 2009)--Millions of people across Asia turned out to watch the longest total solar eclipse of this century.
While the occasion was marked with fireworks and dancing in China and Shanghai, millions of other people viewed it as a bad omen and stayed indoors.
The eclipse turned morning into night for several minutes, covering a swath of India from the country’s west coast to its northern plains.
At least one person died and six others were injured in a stampede as thousands gathered near the Ganges River to watch the rare event.
Millions more shuttered themselves in, gripped by fearful myths.
One Hindu mythology-based superstition says an eclipse is caused when a dragon-demon swallows the sun.
Thousands of Hindus took a dip in the sacred Ganges River at Varanasi in keeping with an ancient belief that bathing in the river there, especially on special occasions, cleanses one's sins.
A thick cloud cover parted in several cities, minutes before the total eclipse, visible only in Asia.
They are caused when the moon covers the sun completely to cast a shadow on earth.
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