Mumbai, May 23: A widely shared message on WhatsApp and social media asks people to drink more water to stay hydrated between May 22 and May 28, when an equinox is likely to occur. According to the viral message, the sun will be directly above the equator, the Equinox, during these days. The viral message also states that the body will get dehydrated faster during the Equinox period.

So, what does the viral message say? "Drink more water for the next seven days (May 22-28) due to *EQUINOX*(an Astronomical event where the Sun is directly above the Earth's equator)," the message read. The viral message also stated that the body gets dehydrated faster during this period. People who received the message were also asked to share the news with others and groups. Spring Equinox 2024 Date and Significance: When Is the First Day of Spring? Know All About Vernal Equinox That Marks Arrival of Spring.

Drink More Water for the Next Seven Days

While the message is going viral rapidly, verifying its claim is important. The viral message claims that the body will experience rapid dehydration during the equinox, which will take place between May 22 and 28. However, it must be noted that the claim is false. A search for the viral message showed us that the claim was previously shared in 2017 and later in 2018. However, the viral claim was debunked by smhoaxslayer.com and india.com in 2018.

X Users Share Viral Message

The viral message's claim is also misleading. Equinox occurs twice yearly: once around March 20 and again around September 22-23. During the astronomical event, the Sun passes directly above the equator, producing nearly equal amounts of day and night globally. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove the claims that equinoxes cause rapid dehydration. World Turtle Day 2024 Date and Theme: Know History and Significance of the Day That Raises Awareness About the Threats Faced by Turtles and Tortoises Worldwide.

The March equinox is called the vernal equinox and marks the beginning of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere. On the other hand, the September equinox, also known as the autumnal equinox, marks the beginning of the autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere and the spring season in the Southern Hemisphere.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2024 03:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).