Babylonianism!

I'm sure I've heard of the exact same phenomenon happening in other places before, with the sun dancing in the sky. Incredibly, if you stare at the sun long enough and unfocus your eyes a bit, it does appear to do this.

As to why this crowd felt the need to participate in such an event... I think this is because all people do on some level believe in a higher power. I don't mean to troll, since it could be an evolutionary thing as many suggest, but the fact is people throughout human history have tended to acknowledge the existence of gods/God. And this far outdates any sort of religious institution, so I don't think it is a social construct. I think we are all naturally inclined to believe in God, however this sense is repressed as people come to learn scientific/whatever arguments against theism.

As to why so many people do not acknowledge the true God (mine, of course ), I think this is because of our corrupt nature, and unwillingness to accept what Christianity really stands for. Nobody is going to accept that they are totally depraved, not just a sinner but sin itself, that God has only chosen a few out of the greater part of humanity to have all the promises of the faith. But since they still have this inate knowledge of God's existence, they invent their own god/gods, and a whole belief system around them.

Add to this all the various laws, ceremonies, traditions etc which emerge when a religion becomes more institutionalised, and you see the emergence of Islam, Catholicism etc. And then the faith is no longer about having a relationship with God and living your life under the hand of providence. This fundamental aspect of the faith is missing. However, maybe if you go see that vision of the Virgin Mary in the sun you will get closer to God... or maybe if go and touch those holy saints bones... or mabye if you do some ritual on a holy day.... and this is where all the corruption in modern day religion comes from.