Superstitions around Chandra Grahan or Lunar Eclipse range from restricting consumption of food at a particular time to actually banning people from watching the celestial event live. While science says a total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and a full moon form a near-perfect lineup in space, there are stories of some strange beast swallowing the moon in various cultures. Here are the facts vs myths on Chandra Grahan or Lunar Eclipse that you need to know.
Eating at the time of Lunar Eclipse causes indigestion: Many believe that consumption of food at the time of Chandra Grahan causes indigestion. hence, they don’t eat and even drink water. However, researchers have made it clear that eating food or drinking water during Lunar Eclipse or Sonar Eclipse does not harm your health in any way.
Watching Chandra Grahan affects your eyesight: Thousands witness Lunar Eclipse whenever it occurs. However, many Indian believe a superstition that a person can lose eyesight by watching Chandra Grahan as strong rays that are common for any eclipse harms naked eyes. But there are protective glasses which can be used while watching Lunar Eclipse.
Scar for a lifetime: According to some superstition , if you cut yourself during Lunar Eclipse, the bleeding will take a longer time to stop and will leave a scar for a lifetime. To avoid any injury, believers prefer staying at home and not going out for work and other purposes. However, there is no proof to back this claim and the time taken for a wound to heal depends on the health of the person and not the moon!
Bath after Chandra Grahan:
After Lunar Eclipse, many people rush to take a bath and wash their hair, saying that negative energy and harmful rays will be washed clean by the water. However, it makes no sense and how can rays be washed off by water.
Lunar Eclipse harmful to pregnancy?
Chandra Grahan is regarded as a bad omen by many cultures. Many consider it as a bad omen for pregnant women. They believe watching Lunar Eclipse may cause one to give birth to a deformed baby. Therefore, the pregnant women are not allowed to leave their rooms during the eclipse and the curtains are drawn so that the Moon does not pose a threat. Scientifically, there has been no evidence to prove that eclipse can be harmful during pregnancy.