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The Sun Festival at Abu Simbel is a landmark event of Aswan. Every year the celebrations of Sun Festival takes place at the holy temple of Ramses II, and is considered an awesome scientific event on the earth’s bosom. The Abu Simbel temple was constructed by Ramses II (1279-1213 BC) to exhibit his political authority and celestial patronage to the ancient Nubians. On either side of the temple, which was carved out of a sandstone cliff overlooking the Second Cataract of the Nile, sits a pair of gigantic figurines of him, about 65 feet tall. Though the statues have undergone severe dents in earthquakes since their creation, they remain an overwhelming and incredible display. The temple is associated to face the east, and on top of the foyer sits an alcove with a version of Re-Horakhty, a characteristic of the sun-god Every year on the Sun Festival, Crowds throng in to the temple before sunrise and observe the stream of light gradually sneaking through the stone. Finally the statuettes of Ramses, Ra and Amun are enlightened in the central chamber. You will be surprised to find that the statue of Ptah - the god of darkness - remains in the gloom even on these two special days of the year. The scene is breathtaking and infact the spectators take a few minutes to shirk off the awe attained while percieving this spectacle. Then comes the time to mingle with the music and extravaganza taking place outside. A lovely fair in the temple premises draws a huge number of people though nothing can surpass the exoticism of the shimmering sun rays creeping through the stones. In a bout of exactitude and authoritarian architectural egoism, Ramses II, cautiously constructed his temple at Abu Simbel so that the internal chamber would light up two times a year: once on the anniversary of his ascension to the throne, and once on his birthday. The mishmash of human enterprise and natural occurrence provides one of the stunning highlights in the world.
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