Sunday, 21 June 2020 promises to be an eventful day. A number of social, religious, astronomical and astrological events are slated to come alive. This day will bring with it the Solar Eclipse, the Summer Solstice, the Doomsday (thanks to conspiracy theorists)
The 21st June of this year is an amalgamation of several events which are taking place sequentially, including the Summer Solstice and the Solar Eclipse astronomical events. The solar eclipse ‘Ring of Fire’ starting from Africa at sunrise and ending at springtime in the Pacific is an exciting event. Today, Father’s Day, and also World Music Day is also a World Yoga Day. Conspiracy theorists also wait in a breath to know whether the Mayans had good reason to predict today’s doomsday.
Solar eclipse: When the Sun, Moon and Earth come in a straight line, the solar eclipse occurs. When the Moon is farthest away from the earth in the elliptical orbit, during the eclipse time it will not cover the Sun’s disk entirely and therefore the Sun’s rays will escape into a burst-a ring of light around the Moon’s dark silhouette. In this year the solar eclipse of the ‘Ring of fire’ begins at sunrise in Africa. In India, Rajasthan around 10:12 a.m. begins the path of the annular Sun’s eclipse near Gharsana.
The next eclipse is noticeable, according to NASA, for a time of 02 minutes 10 seconds, from the Atlantic, South America and Antarctica.
During World Yoga Day throughout the country, the annual Solar Eclipse witnesses the rare celestial event. Sky gobblers are looking at the rare phenomenon, where the ring of fire is actually visible around the sun. This is the first solar eclipse of the year and 6 such solar eclipses have been observed so far in the 21st century. We will see a solar eclipse because the Sky, the Moon and the Earth are straight lines in such a manner as to prevent the rays of the Light from passing between the Sun and the Earth.
This year the coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted the ring solar eclipse. Large assemblies were prohibited and therefore special events at observatories and planetariums were canceled throughout the country in the middle of Covid-19. The temples were also shut down in Hubli during this period.
The International Yoga Day was memorialized by thousands of people of people across the country and abroad when they joined virtual gatherings and shared online photos and videos showing the importance of ancient practice for the world as they combat the Coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Indian celebrations and highlighted that Yoga has been a power for unification that goes beyond color, colour, sex , religion and nations.
Modi said that in his almost 15-minute speech this morning, the world is feeling the need of yoga more than ever as a result of the coronaviral pandemic, and the ancient Indian practice helps a wide range of COVID-19 patients across the world.
Yoga enthusiasts conducted exercise on their homes or in small outdoor groups taking into account the distancing social norms because no major camps were organized since the first day of the Yoga Day in the world with the Summer Solstice or the longest day in the year, due to a COVID 19 pandemic. The theme of this year’s event was “Yoga at home and yoga with family”
People from different sectors post pictures and videos of themselves in coronavirus yoga positions. Images have been spectacular in many parts of the world. Most astonishing images may have been from the Himalayan icing as yoga was practiced under-zero.
Officials said that the Indian missions outside Germany try to reach people via digital media and a network of institutions that support yoga. A large Leh event had been planned by the Ministry of AYUSH, but canceled because of the pandemic.
In its UN address on the 21st of June, PM Modi stated it would be the longest day in the year and has particular significance in many parts of the world, as the date of the International Yoga Day.
“Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, a holistic approach that is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature,” PM Modi said while introducing the proposal to observe Yoga Day during the opening of the 69th Session of the General Assembly back in 2014.
