10 Popular Indian Superstitions

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India has always been a land of superstitious people. Every culture, religion and region have their own sets of superstitions.

Though some superstitions have scientific reasons attached to them, most of them seem extremely silly.

Though modernisation has taken over the country and the new generation seems to be untouched by the silly superstitious beliefs, there are still a few which prevail.

ALSO SEE: Remedies To Get Rid Of The Evil Eye

It does not matter whether you want to follow or not follow a particular superstition. But sometimes most of us cannot help but indulge in a few superstitious practices in our day to day life.

Some of these superstitions are funny while some have grave social implications.

Let us take a close look at these 10 popular Indian superstitions:

The One Rupee Effect

The one rupee is considered an auspicious amount in Indian culture. In India, it is a traditional practice to give money as gifts during weddings and other ceremonies. However the amount that is gifted should always end in odd number or should have one rupee attached to it.

The Lemon Chilli Charm

You may have noticed lemon and chillies hanging on most of the doors in India. Usually a lemon along with seven chillies is hung with a string outside the door. As seven is considered to be the magical number, this charm is said to bring luck and prosperity in the house.

The Black Cat

One of the most popular superstition is a black cat crossing the way. Most of us unknowingly follow this superstition. It is believed that if a black cat crosses your way, it will bring bad luck. A black cat is considered extremely inauspicious, especially if you are heading for a good cause.

The Unlucky Saturday!

Saturday is usually connected to Lord Shani who is believed to be a furious God with a very bad temper. It is generally considered inauspicious to travel on a Saturday. Also no auspicious ceremony is conducted on a Saturday.

The Evil Eye

Another popular Indian superstition is the evil eye. 'Evil eye' usually refers to a magical glance which may or may not be intentional. It is believed that if you are affected by the evil eye of a person out of jealousy or extreme admiration, you may fall sick or something really bad may happen to you.

Peepal Tree

In many parts of India, it is believed that peepal tree is an abode of ghosts and spirits which is far from the truth. The idea behind this superstition is that the peepal tree gives out a high amount of carbon dioxide at night which is potentially dangerous for anybody who stands or sleeps underneath the tree. To ward off people from this, the superstition of ghosts has been popularised.

Cutting Nails

Another common superstition is cutting of nails on particular days of the week or after sunset. It is generally believed that one should not cut nails on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It is supposed to bring bad luck. Also cutting nails after sunset is also prohibited.

Menstruation Myths

A very mean and patriarchal superstition is related to menstruating women. Apparently, menstruating women are considered unclean and impure. Women who are menstruating are not allowed to enter the kitchen or to perform any auspicious work. In the olden days, it was considered a bad luck to even see the face of a menstruating woman. That is why women who menstruated were kept in a secluded part of the house where they would not be visible to other family members.

The Eclipse Effect

There are a number of superstitions surrounding the solar as well as lunar eclipses. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that on an eclipse day, the sun or the moon is devoured by a demon. This is why people are advised to stay indoors. Pregnant women especially have to stay indoors so that their child is not born with any deformities. It is also believed that one must not consume food or even cook food during the period of the eclipse. In some regions a leaf of the Tulsi plant is placed on every eatable to prevent it from being destroyed.

The Unlucky Indian Widows

Another very sad superstition which is still prevalent in India is that of the widows. The widows in India are treated worse than animals. A widow is not allowed to wear any jewellery and is supposed to wear only white clothes for the rest of her life. She must not eat any spicy food and must stick to only vegetarian food. The saddest part is seeing the face of a widow is considered extremely unlucky according to the beliefs.