Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
At Cave No. 10 of the world heritage Ellora Caves, an extraordinary phenomenon occurs every year on March 10, when the rays of the sun fall directly on the face of the statue of Gautama Buddha. This unique moment, often described as the ‘meeting of one radiance with another’, draws great interest from history enthusiasts. However, as the main day of the Kiranotsav falls on a Tuesday this year, the caves will remain closed. As a result, history lovers from across the state are expected to visit Ellora on Wednesday.
The Kiranotsav takes place in Cave No. 10 of the caves when the sun moves towards the northern hemisphere during Uttarayan. The event began on Monday, but the main day of the phenomenon is March 10, when the sun’s rays fall directly on the face of the statue of Gautama Buddha. This rare moment, representing a confluence of astronomy, archaeology and Buddhist philosophy, attracts cave researchers, history enthusiasts and tourists from across the country every year.
However, the Ellora Caves remain closed every Tuesday. Since the main day of the Kiranotsav falls on Tuesday this year, the caves will remain closed, depriving visitors of the opportunity to witness this remarkable event.
History enthusiasts from across the state to gather tomorrow
Although the phenomenon may still be partially visible on March 11, the main moment can only be experienced on March 10. History enthusiasts and researchers had demanded that the weekly holiday be postponed and the caves kept open for the occasion. However, as this request was not considered, many history lovers from across the state have decided to gather at Ellora on Wednesday to witness the Kiranotsav.