Eclipse and belief

This is an excerpt from one of the news item from indian express.
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The superstitious placed tulsi leaves or grass in their cooked food, water and milk before the start of the eclipse in the belief edible stuff gets contaminated during a solar eclipse. Adhering to advice from astrologers, many people did not eat or drink, and some even refrained from relieving themselves or venturing outdoors during the eclipse time. The staunch believers bathed after the eclipse was over.
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I would like to know if there is any reason in doing these.