The arrival of the eclipse, at 5.55 am, was greeted with a reverberation of hymns and shlokas, the ringing of bells and the beating of drums, as devotees rushed in for the holy dip.

Although the holy dip held religious significance during the eclipse, which ended at 6:10 am, the devotees continued to bathe in the sacred waters till late in the afternoon. Many were also seen praying during the night and kept offering the holy waters to the Sun God during the 15-minute eclipse period.

Alms were also distributed to the pandits and beggars during the eclipse. It is believed by many, that during the eclipse period, the Sun God is afflicted by Lord Rahu and thus, the devotees pray for Hisfreedom.

Pilgrims, a majority of them from the rural areas and some carrying infants on their shoulders, also paid obeisance at the age-old Shiv temple at the Brahm Sarovar.

While the 200-odd Naga saints coming here from various parts were among the first to take the holy dip, among the dignitaries present were Haryana Governor Mahabir Prasad and Chief Justice of India Justice M M Punchhi, who took the holy dip in the Sannehit and Brahma Sarovar tanks respectively. The pilgrims were, for the first time ever, insured for a sum of Rs 50,000 each by the district administration and mela authorities.

Frequent visitors to the holy city during solar eclipses in the past, however, said the crowds were less this time as compared to previous years.