India is one of the oldest civilizations existing that holds diverse traditions. These cultural customs are full of superstitions that might seem strange at first glance. Yet Indian people, and not just Indians, still follow them in their everyday lives.
Superstitions in general have always served as explanations for strange, unexpected events long before religions were developed in their modern form. Surprisingly, many of these beliefs remain alive even now and Indian people connect these mysterious traditions to luck and peace in life.
In this article, we will talk about 5 of the most common Indian superstitions that might be useful to keep misfortune far, far away.
1. Using Bhang in Religious Traditions
While many countries treat the cannabis plant with caution, in India, cannabis has an honored role in religious life. One example is bhang — a ceremonial drink made from cannabis leaves and milk, which is a common drink during Hindu festivals such as Holi and Shivaratri.
Indians believe that cannabis is connected to a Hindu god, Shiva, who is a god of destruction. Believers say that the Bhang beverage helps them connect to the divine. Otherwise, some might experience misfortune.
Cannabis is also used for medical purposes. Specifically, to reduce pain. Besides, Indians find it helpful in their process of meditation. A common superstition is that meditating with cannabis will bring them peace and protect their mind and body from all evil. Even non-Indian people tend to perform these rituals, as getting cannabis strains is just as accessible via websites like https://fastbuds.com/us to recreate the ritual.
2. Going Near a Peepal Tree at Night
Resting under a beautiful tree can be a fun and calming activity for many. As important as it is to have some quality time in nature, Indians suggest not to go near peepal trees. According to this superstition, once the sun goes down, the peepal tree becomes scary because they are haunted by ghosts.
Even though science proves that the weird sounds coming from the tree are a part of photosynthesis, the superstition about it is still very much believed. In any case, locals insist it’s best to avoid visiting peepal trees in the dark to stay safe.
3. Cutting Nails or Hair on Saturday and Sunset
Cutting nails or cutting hair are things we randomly do for aesthetics. But did you know you should always check your timing when you get them done? At least, that’s what Indian people believe. Based on superstition, you can pick any day for these tasks other than Saturday because if you do either of these things on Saturday, something bad will happen to you.
According to Indian beliefs, cutting nails or hair on Saturday upsets Lord Shani, also known as Saturn, and causes bad luck to whoever decides to do it. It is also better if you cur your nails before sunset, as it is thought that clipping sounds resurrect evil witches.
4. Black Cats
The belief that black cats are a sign of bad luck is common not just in India but in Western culture countries as well. Originally, his idea came from Egypt, where the black cats represented misfortune and evil.
Indians believe that the color black itself is a sign of bad luck. Even though they relate black cats to Lord Shani, who’s a protector of fortune, Indians still consider black cats unlucky. If a black cat runs in front of you, it means that something unfortunate will happen to you. The ways to avoid it are to turn around and walk away or stop and wait for someone else to pass.
5. Taking a Bath After Attending a Funeral
Obviously, it is a tragedy when someone close to you passes away and you have to go to a funeral. Yes, you might not feel like it immediately but in India, no matter how sad you are, you must take a shower after attending a funeral.
Indian people think that showering after a funeral is absolutely necessary in order to protect yourself from any disease and bad luck. If we trust this belief after interacting with the dead, whatever caused the death might transfer to our skin. As a result, to prevent any misfortune, showers after funerals are mandatory.
Bottom Line
The thought of whether superstitions work or not still remains a mystery. Nonetheless, as you can see, Indian culture consists of quite interesting and intriguing myths that allegedly protect us from evil supernatural things and bad luck. If you feel like you have a lot of misfortune in life and don’t want to add even more, following a few of these Indian customs might not hurt.
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