Superstitions that still follow!

It was the auspicious day of Dhanteras, I was arranging the clay lamps outside my house when my sister came running towards me and said a snake was found in our neighbour’s garden. Both of us got chills down our skin but it was amusing what mom said next; “If a snake comes to your house on this day, well that’s the sign of wealth.” Little did I know of, it’s just another superstition that still prevails among the people of our country!

With our wide culture, traditions and religions are attached certain belief systems and practices we have been carrying out since years as guided by our elders. We say we have been adapting the western culture, we say our families are no longer orthodox and we have been widening our minds to follow the traits of modernization to set a new paradigm for the next generation; well- are we? Superstitions are indeed those beliefs that have slowly been forgotten but people still preach them in the name of religion and fear of bad luck. A layman would happily deny the fact of being superstitious, but the stronger the denial; deeper is he falling for the trap.

When we were kids, our grandparents told us to do and make sure we never do some things. Like crossing the road when a black cat crosses your way, to cut nails after sunset or get a haircut on certain days, asking someone leaving the house whether where are they going, spilling of milk from an overfilled vessel etc were a strict NO and considered as a sign of bad omen where as if you witness an elephant or a bride when you leave the house, if the end of a cow’s tail touches you, breaking of glass, itching of your palm or twitching of your eye could be felicitous. 

These might be just certain things we observe during the day and reflect on them as good or bad; but there’s another list that might bring good luck, wealth, keep away evil spirits and sometimes even tell you if guests are coming home or it’s a silent fear of someone’s death. There is a whole list of Do’s and Don’ts in our cult related to fruits, vegetables, men, pregnant, widow or menstruating women and various animals but when we choose to be educated and broad-minded towards every other aspect of life; when are we going to let go this practice which is only pulling us back. 

Think about it; why would one put vadas and coconut on the crossroads just to get rid of bad luck and that’s not the end- whoever steps on it shall be followed by bad luck! I mean you would rather feed a needy person with those edibles for the sake of humanity than to waste it for this ritual. How is witnessing an elephant or wearing a particular gem stone bringing you good luck? Talking about gem stones, people have made a new business out of it and found a way to attract fools. Why do we need to make sure of a particular time while we are travelling or purchasing something new or why are directions so important in our house and even while sleeping or studying?

But then by the passing time, these superstitions have been twisted and given different meanings. Maybe they had a different notion but this cruel society has changed it. For example, our elders told us to cut our nails before sunset because then there was no light; therefore we might end up hurting ourselves. If a woman is menstruating, she is asked not to enter the kitchen or temples; not because she is impure but she needs to rest instead of getting involved in household activities. Back then the meaning was clearer, but now it’s just a mixture of what has been passed on since decades. Superstitions are now like the game we played in childhood where everyone adds something to a sentence and in the end what comes out doesn’t even makes sense.

You might think that it’s time we come up with a completely new belief system and forget these folklores. Well, the time is gone. The only solution might be that for once, we shouldn’t learn this from all the generations that came by. Sooner a time shall come when do this and that shall become we used to do. Moreover, the more educated our society; more aware we are about the good and bad around us, what should be adapted and what needs to be abandoned. It’s high time we resort to modernization than to be a replica of western countries!