AGENCIES  News Agency reports on 23-9-87 that at Kurushetra (India) about 1,000 NAKED  Hindu "Sadhus"  (saints) plunged themselves into the river during a solar eclipse, claiming this to be a "holy dip". Over one million pilgrims, naked & semi naked, both male and female, also followed them into the river. The largest of the pools is Brahmasarovar, and is said to accommodate 100,000 bathers at a time. There was still no room for everyone in the water at one time and there was much pushing and shoving. The huge crowds waiting on the banks barely had space to turn around. People crowded the shore waiting for their chance. This is the position of the "holy dip" everywhere in India. A Haryana Government spokesman said that they posted 20,000 policemen to avoid misuse of this mixing opportunity for perverted reasons.

In addition to this spectacle the pilgrims also look directly as the sun with the naked eye. Scientist and doctors strongly advise against this is it is likely to cause blindness.