Although, the phenomenon could be as old as the existence of the celestial world, yet a reference to it as a festival is available in the vedas and in the upanishads. The earliest reference with regard to solar eclipse celebrations as a festival is found in the Mahabharata, Bhagwat Puran, Matasaya Puran and Vaman Puran. In these religious texts, it is mentioned that "a holy dip at Kurukshetra gives merit equivalent to that of performing 100 aswamedha yajnas." Interestingly, the 82nd chapter of the Bhagwat Purana in its 10th Canto deals exclusively with the visit of Lord Krishna and his family members to Kurukshetra on the solar eclipse day to have a holy dip. There is also a reference of the visit of the Kauravas and Pandavas as well as their contemporary kings and princes to Kurukshetra to experience this celestial wonder.

A painting from the Bhagwat Purana, which is on display at the Sri Krishna Museum, is based on the event. It shows Lord Krishna and others taking a dip in the holy Sannehit Tank on the solar eclipse day. A tableau is also there.

Kurukshetra is considered as one of the supreme teerathas for a pilgrimage during the solar eclipse period. Since times immemorial, a holy dip here has a special significance for attaining moksha, which is the ultimate life goal of every devout Hindu.

The town since ancient times had been popular for its sacred tanks which today are known as the Sannehit and Braham Sarovar. In fact, they used to be part of one tank earlier. In the Yajur Veda period it was called Saryanavat. Later, it came to be called Brahamsar and Rama Hrad and also Samant Panchak. The identification of Saryanavat with the holy tank where Rishi Dadichi offered his bones to Lord Indra for making a vajra (thunderbolt) to kill Britasur is available in mythological texts. In fact, in Vayu Purana, a reference about the tank which was over 12 kos ( 30 km) in length and over 8 kos (20 km) in breadth existing in Kurukshetra is available. Mythology has it that the Sthanu Lingam of Lord Shiva, the first on this earth, was situated on the north-eastern bank of this holy tank. Rishi Dadichi also used to pray to Lord Shiva on the banks of this tank. As per Hindu mythology, it was known as the permanent abode of Lord Vishnu. On the solar eclipse day, all pious rivers of India are supposed to mingle with the waters of this tank.

The importance of the Kurukshetra tank has been highlighted by historians like Cunnigham, Rogers and V.S. Aggarwal.

A reference to the Kurukshetra sarovar is also available in the Yajur Veda, in Mairaini Samihita of the Krishna Yajur Veda. It is said that the place "is considered most suitable for divine sacrifice."

It is, therefore, obvious that since times immemorial, Kurukshetra has been venerated as a sacred teeratha where lakhs of people used to converge on solar eclipse. During mediaeval times, Emperor Akbar visited the fair in 1567. Akbarnama gives a vivid description of it. Abul Fazal called the tank "a miniature ocean".

Historic references are available that both Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Ram Dass had also visited Kurukshetra. In fact, the SGPC has plans to construct 10 gurdwaras in Kurukshetra. It has already built six.

There are numerous travel accounts such as Alberuni’s Kitab-ul-Hind, which refers to Francois Burnier’s visit to Kurukshetra during the times of Emperor Aurangzeb. In 1666, he had written that "like the Ganga and other places, Kurukshetra was also one of the sacred places for a holy bath." He had given it the name of Talabs of Thaneswar.

During the British period, special arrangements were made on this occasion. From 1914 onwards, the British Government took over the mela administration in its hands. There is a reference to the solar eclipse mela in 1921 when lakhs of people visited the place for a holy dip.

But slowly the condition of the holy tanks deteriorated and at one time after partition, these seemed to be mud ponds. In fact, the sole credit of renovating the tanks and restoring these to their original sanctity and glory goes to the late Gulzari Lal Nanda. The modern renovated tanks and entire complex under the charge of the Kurukshetra Development Board cannot be visualised without its association with the name of Nanda. He was responsible for persuading the government for pumping in crores of rupees for the development of the holy tanks of Kurukshetra.

There is another important angle to the holy dip at Kurukshetra during modern times. As per Hindu mythology, "the sun is the real, living and omnipresent incarnation of Lord Shiva for this universe." Lord Shiva also denotes mahakal. Therefore, a worship of the Sun God means worship of the mahakal. Lord Shiva has his abode at Mount Kailash, and at the feet of Mount Kailash is situated the Mansarovar Lake. It is believed that Lord Shiva’s feet remain constantly immersed in the holy waters of the Mansarovar Lake. The river Sutlej has its origin in Mansarovar. Water from the Bhakra canal flows into the Braham Sarovar and Sannehit at Kurukshetra. To pray to the Sun God while having a holy dip in the pious waters of Mansarovar is akin to praying to Lord Shiva.