Keep'n It Real

By Michelle S. Aulakh & Veechika

India is a country rich in various cultures, traditions and communities. And with these traditions come a lot of superstitions. It is very easy to dismiss these superstitions as baseless because our parents might have never told us why we must follow them in the first place. Here are some fascinating scientific reasons for the old-age traditions observed in India.

Don’t sleep with your head facing north

Let me remind you of a story that you probably heard in your childhood.

“A long time ago, Parvathi Devi made the structure of a child with ‘haldi’ and put life into it, telling not to let anyone inside until she finished bathing. Meanwhile, her husband, Lord Shiva, returned home. As he tried to get inside, the little boy stopped him. This enraged Lord Shiva, and with his weapon of choice, the ‘Trishul’, he cut the boy’s head off. Parvathi Devi was distraught and angry with Lord Shiva for killing her son. Lord Shiva immediately ordered the angels to bring him the head of an animal sleeping with its head to the north. They found an elephant, and that’s how we have Lord Ganesha.”

After listening to this story, I was utterly convinced that sleeping with my head to the north would result in terrible things for me. My elders didn’t help me understand why either, or maybe they too didn’t know the reason behind it all. But now that you think about it do you wonder why you shouldn’t?

The Earth and the human body have magnetic fields of their own. The Earth’s magnetic fields are concentrated in the North and the South directions. When we sleep with our heads to the north, our body’s magnetic field interferes with Earth’s, fluctuating our blood pressure and might lead to heart problems. Our hearts would have to work harder to overcome the added stress. For the elderly and heart patients, there might also be a higher risk of hemorrhage or paralytic stroke.

Another reason is that our blood contains a lot of iron. When we sleep with our heads to the North, the magnetic pull of the direction attracts iron and accumulates in the brain. This might also be the reason why people complain of getting a headache when they wake up.

Dahi-Cheeni

From term exams to job interviews, eating at least one spoon of Dahi-Cheeni is mandatory in many Indian households. But why do we eat curd and sugar? It's not just a tradition.

Firstly curd or yoghurt aids digestion and acts as a natural laxative. It also contains vital nutrients like calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium, and magnesium. Additionally, Ayurveda tells us that curd acts as a natural coolant for our body and helps fight the heat. Sugar, as we know, is an essential source of glucose. Thus when mixed, it is cooling, soothing and gives us an instant dose of energy.

During any exam or stressful event, diet and nutrition often take a back seat. At such a time, having Dahi-Cheeni fuels up the body with the missing energy needed to perform a task and takes care of the nutrition. In the long term, curd and sugar, when taken together, can also boost concentration and memory retention. It acts as a natural recharge drug for the brain and thus, increases learning and memory retention.

Do not cut nails after sunset

I get it. Some of us always want our nails to be long and shiny but the schools and parents wouldn’t allow us to do so. So with a heavy heart, we have to cut our nails.

Ever since I started cutting my nails on my own, there were instances when I didn't get the time to cut them in the morning before school and eventually cut them in the evening. Every time I did that, it came along with long lectures and scolding from my mom. I was not allowed to cut my nails after sunset.

The reasons, or should I say, superstition, is different in different parts of the world. Some say that if you cut your nails after sunset, you won’t be able to be with your parents when you die or have a premature death, and in some parts, people say that it will attract evil spirits and ghosts.

But there is no truth in it. Our ancestors used to tell us not to cut our nails after sunset because previously, there was a limited supply of power, and we avoided doing so for sanitary reasons. One would not know whether the nail particles became adhered to the feet and were transported elsewhere. Nowadays, this is hardly an issue.

So next time, don’t be afraid to cut your nails after sunset :)

Not being allowed in temples during menstruation cycles

Many times we are not allowed not to go to the temple during our menstruation cycle. People say we are impure during that time. I mean, really? The process which birthed you is suddenly impure?

Previously, women did not have the convenience of sanitary napkins and only a limited number of pain reliever tablets. Temples used to be far away, and it was exhausting for people to go there and spend long hours performing the day's rituals. As a result, women were advised not to enter temples, allowing them to stay home and relax.

I think we definitely misunderstood our forefathers' concerns.

Hanging lemon and chilies at the entrance

We've been doing the 'Nimbu Mirchi' ritual to ward off evil spirits and vibrations, but there's a scientific explanation for the belief. Both lemon and chili contain insecticidal qualities that keep insects at bay. In a manner, it was a means to keep insects out of the house/shop.

If you come across a black cat, your chores will be delayed or postponed

Black kitties, how they suffer. They are blamed only for their race (no racist joke here).

It's a widely held notion in the West that if a black cat crosses your path, it's a terrible omen. The origins of this belief may be traced back to Egypt. Black cats were thought wicked creatures and were worshipped in Egyptian tradition. On the other hand, black signifies Shani and brings ill-luck in Indian culture. If a black cat crosses your path, it is believed that your day's chores will be delayed or postponed.

That reminds me of when we were young and headed to our examinations. But if a black cat crossed our path, the exam was never delayed or postponed. So, what do you think?

Picture credits

http://theculturetrip.com/