(6 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)There are quite a few actions that elders and grand parents at home have perhaps recommended us to do. Many times they sound superstitious but we just do it for their happiness.
While most of them seem illogical, few do seem to have a logical reason around them. Hitherto, learned might have found it difficult to explain to “Aam junta”,
why it is so, therefore they either put religion around it or karma. Let us explore few which seem to have some logic behind it.
Cat crossing the road:
People say, if a cat crosses a road, you should stop and either turn around or wait for few minutes or something bad may happen.
Now, this apparently came in because, the learned believed that if a cat crosses a road it must be after its prey or being chased by a dog. And if you proceed, either the animals might come under your cart or if you are on foot, get attacked by them. Because people might not care too much for the animals they associated this with Karma. Think of this like “I brake for Animals” sticker behind your car.
Sneeze:
If you are stepping out and someone sneezes, they say you should not proceed for a few minutes, else bad Karma.
Now for the reasoning -When you sneeze, every body functions including your heart beat which stops for that moment. And if someone did sneeze, then it might be good for you to be present there because the person may have a problem and may need you. Now people hardly care, so associate it with Karma 
Menstrual Cycle:
Many families believe that women should not be touched or let to do any work during their periods.
Reasoning – Women used to / still do most of the household work in families. During their periods they are under physical stress and additional stress of work may cause hormonal imbalance. But will people care and be so altruistic for their health?.. No! Therefore make it an issue of un-hygiene and badness. Voila and women are saved from the stress. But people take this to extreme extents.
While there are quite a few which seem a bit logical there are scores which are totally senseless. The idea is not to follow them or reject the claims blindly, put common sense to use and follow if required, in principle.
It is not about being superstitious or not, it is about being logical. Do share your views and any more that you know.
Image credit: mikelao26
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February 22nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Hey Sid,
Nice article. Yes, people in India are very superstitious. Why the Aam Junta – take the case of our trimurties of cricket, even they don't shy away from that.
Sachin, Sourav and Dravid – When they come to bat, they enter the ground, look at the sun and proceed. Azhar had his locket as his lucky charm and would kiss every time he reached a milestone. So was the case with Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Dilip Vengskar et al.
Our politicians are also not behind. Basically, what I am trying to say is that this is a culture which will be difficult to give up. I do agree with you that at a personal level, we should do things logically. Bu then to each one's own.
Regards
K
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February 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 am
Interesting Article!! I do not know how far it is true , but my Mom is very superstitious about me wearing black colored clothes for any special occasion. She says black color is inauspicious.
Hmm…. I wonder whats the logical reason behind that ?
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February 23rd, 2009 at 4:29 am
From what I could gather it is associated with in appropriateness of black color due to the tropical climate of India.
While black is elegant, people usually refrain from black in just about everything…
I had to do some good convincing to get a black car myself
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February 23rd, 2009 at 6:10 am
Hi sid
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February 23rd, 2009 at 10:43 am
Well said Sid and precisely so, just to add to this:
1) It's considered a good omen to take curd, when travelling out of town. This originated in Rajasthan, which is quite a hot place and hence taking curd when setting out for a journey, helps cool the body.
2) People pour water on the vehicle they are leaving in when setting out (be it a car or anything). This again came from Rajasthan ( or a hot place), where in olden days, people use to travel in a bullock cart, where the cart's wheel is encircled with a metal ring and to help the metal to grip the wheel tightly, cold water was poured on it, and hence avoid the metal ring getting loose due to the sweltering heat.
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February 23rd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Interesting observations
~K
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