On Wednesday, 2006 March 29, a total eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor which traverses half the Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in Brazil and extends across the Atlantic, northern Africa, and central Asia where it ends at sunset in western Mongolia. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes the northern two thirds of Africa, Europe, and central Asia.

One Indian paper advised pregnant women not to go outside during the eclipse to avoid having a blind baby or one with a cleft lip. Food cooked before the eclipse should be thrown out afterward because it will be impure and those who are holding a knife or ax during the eclipse will cut themselves, the Hindustan Times added.

Shahista Jabeen, who is expecting her first baby, told Daily Times on Tuesday that her mother had warned her from working during the eclipse, especially from handling sharp objects such as knives or scissors, as her baby could be born with a cleft lip or some other deformity. “Therefore, I am not lifting a finger during the eclipse,” she added.

Shazia Jameel, a housewife, said she and her husband would stay indoors during the eclipse. “I have asked my husband not to go out of the house because my elders told me that even a man should not venture outdoors during such a phenomenon. It might just affect us,” she added. Interestingly, even a Masters degree holder has the same view. “Though it is a superstition, I will abide by what my elders have told me. Also, I’d enjoy sitting back and doing nothing,” said Sadia Ijaz, who has an MSc in Chemistry and will have her second baby in August. Ijaz Ahmed, Sadia’s husband, said his wife was pressing him not to go to work. “I have important work, but my wife has put me in a fix. However, I will follow her advice and will take leave,” he added.