A group of astronomy enthusiasts have been educating villagers on the secrets of the skies

While several amateur astronomers clubs have sprung up in the past few months due to the rising interest in today's solar eclipse, a group of sky watchers has been quietly demystifying the skies for awestruck schoolchildren in Maharashtra's interiors for the past 25 years.

Calling themselves Khagol Mandol, the sky watchers organise lectures and workshops.

Sarang Oak, who joined the association in 1988, said that they have set up nearly 30 camps at Nandurbar, Dhule district for school kids and teachers. "The aim is to educate the teachers to pass on the information to their students," he said.

The members meet regularly and arrange overnight sky-watching programmes at Vangani near Karjat and in Pune. The group is now in Dondaicha, in Dhule, to witness the eclipse as that area falls directly in the eclipse belt. Oak said, "We began preparations last July. We researched for a proper site to view the eclipse, held workshops and arranged slideshows," he said. And what are the sky-watchers hoping to take away from this experience? "A lot of scientific information, definitely. Also, if all goes well and there are no clouds, it will be a beautiful sight," Oak added.