Girann (eclipse) There is one tomorrow morning i.e. 22nd july 2009, starts 6.21am till around 8am) We were told when young, during the ‘Girann’ one can see moon and the sun fighting with swords (Chodrim ani Vell/surya torsadini zogoddtat). To watch it, one had the darken a glass in order to see through it. But I never witnessed fighting between the moon and the sun. Pregnant women were very cautious on the day. They would stay indoors lying in the bed whole day. Miscarriages also common on this day? (i remember at least two). Under no circumstances, they would enter kitchen to handle sharp items like knives or de-fishing/de-scalling/cutting ‘adolli’ What’s adolli? See item no 2 here http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk4/269997140/sizes/o/ When we see people around with a lip-cut or nose mal-formed or a cut in the year etc We called him ‘Girannak sampoddlolo’ or affected by eclipse. This was due to his/her pregnant mother handling sharp items like knives, adolli etc at the time of ‘girann’ on on the eclipse day. We called them ‘Kan Katro, Vontt Katro or Nak katro’. Many years ago, may be in early 80’s, I remember a type of total solar eclipse. Suddenly, day time turned into dark like late evening, seen crows returning home, cow returning home etc Many also believed that solar forces like high tide or low tide or half moon or full moon etc affect person’s heath or behaviour. My mother was one of them. Every time she felt not too well she said ‘ Aiz Omas asa mista, jivak mhojea borem nam’. Talking about tomorrow Solar Ecplise, it seems we will never ever going to witness the type in our lifetime (includes children). Whatever it is, whether you are pregnant or not, it was advised, not to watch it with your naked eyes as it could permanently damaged eye retina. Use eclipse glasses or mylar films (what it is I don’t know) Your feedback on ‘Girann’ welcome Sadly, I don’t have a blog.
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