SUPERSTITION IS A RELIGION OF WEAK MIND!!!!!!!!!
Ever since I started thinking rational, I have being observing the practice of a widely held but irrational belief around me. Being brought up in superstitious free family, I often vexed people by them how playing with the keys can lead to a fight or how can upside down slippers can decide my fortune .Whenever I spoke against certain things they termed me as an Atheist. I am not an atheist, but against superstitions.
In every corner of the world superstitions are prevalent identically or partly. This is because man wants to get free from all the hassles in his luck. Superstition is an irrational belief which originates from ignorance or fear. Superstitions are usually associated with religions which are based on the fear of the unknown and man’s attempt to appease supernatural powers. Here I am not saying that belief in god is superstitious. Individual’s beliefs in god take many forms. Some of these are certainly superstitious, but others are not. Also it should not be confused with the customs and ethos. What I always believed was that superstitions decline with increase in the education but this correlation almost seems to be non- existent.
Today also many mothers give their children curd and sugar so that they are successful in whatever they do, even today in IPL matches the owners/co- owners do not come to see the match as they fear they might lose the match. Several methods for warding off an “evil eye” using lemon and chilli totems are still commonly adopted by various households in India. Many people still believe that looking at the broken mirror may bring bad luck to them. Peepal (Ficus religiosa) trees are believed to be the abode of ghost. Even today in many parts of India , women is not allowed to go to temples or near god or even light a lamp during her mensuration which usually is considered under patriarchal hogwash.
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Though there have been advancements in the field of science and technology, superstition still holds its place right in the minds of the people. Even though people are educated and aware, they still always have some or the other superstitions in our minds. Superstition does not have any basis or logical reasoning, but still we keep on following them without having any understanding of them. In a country where the majority are illiterates, there is ignorance which hampers the scientific temper in the country. Even in metropolitan cities or urban areas, where majority of the people are educated and internally know that adding one rupee to a gift sum won’t become auspicious, yet they would do so. One should adopt a scientific approach in his life usually termed as ‘scientific temper’.
One should learn the reason behind these superstitions and their origin. For instance the behind the belief of hanging lemon and 7 chillies is that the cotton thread which is used to pierce the chillies and lemon absorbs the acid from the fruit leaving it fresh. The smell keeps the pests and insects away. This is a simple pesticide which came into practice from ancient times, which is mislead now superstitiously.
Though there have been some improvement since 19th century, superstitions still prevails in many parts of the country. I agree that it is not a child’s play to completely eradicate superstitions which are rooted since ages but the issue can be addressed through discussions debates, seminars etc. Social media should spread awareness about the ill effects of superstitions, enforcement of the law, government, activists and public play a very crucial role in eradicating superstitions. Rational thinking people should come forward and create awareness among the people about the evils of superstition.
For now, having a superstition-free country is impossible to achieve in near future.
