Pleasing Sun-eating dragon to ward-off ill-effects

ALLAHABAD: Not taking into account the effects of the solar eclipse, whether god or bad, upon living things, the fact remains that several satellite channels airing the dos and don'ts during the duration of eclipse have sent the masses into a purchasing frenzy. Searching for the obscurest objects like an iron nail from the hull of a boat to iron vessels, earthen lamps, mustard oil, the message seemed to be loud and clear.Nobody was intending to take any chances!
Says Alok Khanna, a confirmed atheist, "There does not seem to be any harm in performing a few rituals which do not even cost much to ward off the ill-effects, if any, of the eclipse.
Rajesh, an insurance agent who has made it to the top by putting in hard labour and sheer perseverance too has consulted his family pundit to perform rituals as per the requirements of his sun sign which is Aries. He said that the pundit was quite amused to see him at his door steps as Rajesh, during his marriage ceremony a few years back had refused to follow several rituals by terming them to be utter nonsense. He had made terse comments against the priests who warned them of ill-effects of some planets if certain rituals were not fulfilled in accordance with traditions.
Barely three years down the line, Rajesh is sincerely following the pundits advice of putting up a picture of Lord Shiva with the serpent around his neck and placing a lighted earthen lamp in the northern corner of his house. He has also been advised to chant the mantra to appease the retrograde planets and donate the cotton clothes he wears during the time of eclipse.
With a majority of satellite television channels and newspapers, mostly regional dailies being flooded with information about the effects of eclipse, the masses have got more confused rather than enlightened about the celestial event.
Even all schools colleges including English medium ones being run by Christian management have either been closed or would open after the eclipse ends. Has any sort of a religious perspective cast its shadow upon these institutions too ?
Replying in the negative, principal of Bishop Johnson School, NL Singh avers "The step has only been initiated as a precautionary measure otherwise who would take the responsibility of the tiny tots risking a glance at the eclipse and possibly losing their eye sight in the process," he questioned.
Be as it may, astronomers and scientists bracing up for the event, the only advice from their side is not to view the event with naked eyes!
* Gagandeep was at his wits end seen running from pillar to post at the Katra market searching frantically for a picture of Lord Bhairava along with a dog.
* Someshwar, a trader in Katra too was busy purchasing turmeric, wheat flour, salt gram flour and a yellow piece of cloth.
* Swati took a day off from her office to make arrangements for warding off the "ill-effects'' of the solar eclipse on Wednesday.