The BBC ran an article on the solar eclipse that happened yesterday here. Seems everybody was out gazing at it.
Here’s the link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8161578.stm
Here in Vrindavan it was different. Such an event is considered inauspicious and auspicious at the same time. Certainly it is not recommended to stare at it.
The bad bit is that people here believe that it is so powerful it can contaminate food and so no one cooks during the time of the eclipse and for a period before and afterwards. Temples close for the duration as it is thought the food offerings normally made would be polluted. Restaurants close and if you eat at this time it is thought you will become ill.
The good side is that it is meant to be a very good time to practice religious ritual or perform devotional acts as their potency or benefit is magnified. The whole town of Vrindavan took to the parikrama path, with husbands wives, children, sadhus, and just about everybody and their granny seemed to pass by the gate of my ashram, (which is on the parikrama path) all day long.
Rooftop view at 6am morning of eclipse
Anuradha in India 