ASIIA: Eclipse evokes tears then cheers in Bangladesh
Wed Jul 22 18:53:03 EST 2009
While today's eclipse of the sun has been viewed with great satisfaction by astronomers .. tens of thousands of people have prayed in northern Bangladesh .. fearful it heralded natural disasters.
Local authorities say devout Muslims packed into a sports stadium prayed during the eclipse .. while some wept and shook with fear .. and erupted in thunderous applause as soon as the sun emerged again.
The Bangladesh Astronomical Society says the total eclipse lasted less than four minutes .. during which time stars were visible in the sky.
