India is a strange land. This is the land where conservative ideologies co-exist with the stark explanations of modern science backed by research and experimentation. This co-existentialism owes its origin to superstitions which are classic characteristics of this fusion. Practices and beliefs that otherwise have a backing of science are explained by supernatural means and have a mysterious belief system based upon it. They have a very significant role in our daily lives and we tend to follow them even if we do not understand the reason behind their origin. In this article we will discuss some of the most popular superstitions followed in India and their possible explanations.
Breaking mirror brings bad luck
It is believed if any glass objects or the mirror breaks; it will attract bad luck to the household. Thus glass objects and mirrors should be handled with care. The theory behind this superstition could be the fact that glass can cause injuries and are often expensive. As such they increase the possibility of one either getting harmed by the broken pieces or could burn a hole in your pocket.
Do not use broom at night
Sweeping at night is usually prohibited in Indian households after sunset. This could be due to the fact that at night without clear light, you could sweep away necessary or expensive things like your jewellery or similar stuff. It is also believed that the deity of Wealth Goddess Lakshmi visits the homes of its followers after sunset, thus sweeping could deter her visit to our homes and she won’t be as likely to pay a visit.
Do not go outside during eclipse
Our ancestors and even our grandparents strictly forbid us to go out during the period of an eclipse. Being outside, one could be intrigued by the eclipse and look up to the sky in anticipation. Scientists today forbid the general public to not see the eclipse with naked eye but use special equipments. This explains this ancestral superstition of not going out during a solar eclipse.
Using lemon and chillies to ward off evil
It is believed that the Goddess of misfortune ‘Alakshmi’ visits us to bestow bad luck. Therefore people hang a string of chillies and lemon at their place of business and homes. It is said the sour, pungent and spicy food is loved by the deity and she will enjoy her favourite food and move on. It is also believed that the lemons and chillies have insecticidal properties and wards off insects.
Eating curd before you step out of your homes
Curd with sugar is a very tasty treat but our ancestors emphasise on eating the treat before leaving our homes. India is a tropical country and the sun can be blazing hot at times. As such, one needs to keep the body to cool. Curd has very good cooling property and sugar is glucose in disguise. As such eating it can keep one’s mind cool and the sugar can supply much needed energy. Thus, bringing good luck and success.
So, here are some theories behind some of the popular superstitions in India.
