By David Chazan in Delhi

Astrologers and astronomers in India are preparing for Wednesday's solar eclipse. Mystics are predicting war, devastation and disaster.

Thousands of people are gathering at holy sites as bathing in holy water is believed to be especially purifying during a solar eclipse.

Many others are visiting temples associated with the sun and stars.

At the Temple of the Planets in Bombay, priests have warned pregnant women to be careful.

They believe that if a pregnant woman cuts anything during an eclipse, or even steps our of her house, her child may be disfigured.

Planetary configurations

Many astrologers have advised young couples to postpone their weddings. Veenu Sandal says the planetary configurations indicate war between India and Pakistan.

"When war breaks out, it's not going to end until about February and India is going to win back a part of Pakistan and that will bring a lot of peace," she told the BBC.

"I see China somehow coming into the picture in a big way after this eclipse," she said.

Indian scientists however will be taking a different approach, studying solar interference patterns which they say can only be detected during an eclipse.

Many other people in India are simply curious to see the eclipse, disregarding the gloom and doom predicted by the astrologers.