HINDUS around the country who may be wary of the Diwali celebrations falling on November 18 need not to worry, the practising priest and astrologer of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji Ramesh Sharma says.
According to Wikipedia, the next solar eclipse is scheduled to take place on November 13-14 from 8.56am to 11.21am, with a magnitude of 1.0500, occurring only 12 hours before perigee, with greatest eclipse totality lasting just over four minutes.
Hindus believe the high intensity of the beam of the eclipse will cause serious problems to them.
Mr Sharma explained part of the superstitions include those eating or drinking during the eclipse could pass abnormal cells onto their offspring and food could go bad if the beam of the eclipse falls on it.
"Sanatan followers are aware of the various means of protection whenever there is an eclipse," he said.
"It is our advice to them to avoid making too much sweets and food, only enough to fit the family and their guests.
"And during the eclipse, they should cover the food with holy basal leaves."
Mr Sharma said Diwali celebrations would continue but advised followers to be careful during the eclipse.
"The celebrations will be at night so the solar eclipse will not affect much of it because it is scheduled to occur during the day."
The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji also echoed the same sentiments from the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, saying Diwali celebrations will go on because their followers were aware of the actions to take during an eclipse.
Fiji is expected to experience a partial eclipse on November 13, with a maximum of 98 per cent of the sun obscured at 9.07am at an altitude of 42 degrees.