13 Indian Superstitions And The Possible Facts Behind Them!!!

• Hanging Lemon And Green Chilies!!

Fact: Lemon and chilly, both have insecticidal properties that keep insects away and protect your house and shop from insects.

• Don’t Go Near Peepal Tree At Night!!

Fact: We all know that Peepal tree releases large amounts of oxygen during the day and during nighttime it releases carbon dioxide. So, while there is no truth in the belief that a Peepal tree is inhabited by spirits and ghosts, the aforementioned is reason is probably why and how this superstition came into being.

• Taking A Bath After Attending Someone's Last Rites!!

Fact: The body of the dead person can contain bacteria or infections and that's why once the funeral is performed, it's advised to take a bath before entering the house or socializing.

• Do Not Cut Nails After Sunset!!

Fact: Most of us have heard this warning from our parents but did you ever get a convincing answer? Not likely. In earlier times, when we had a limited supply of electricity, cutting nails was avoided after sunset to prevent injury in absence of proper light.

• Women Are Not Allowed In Temples During Menstruation!!

Fact: In the past, women did not have the convenience of sanitary napkins and pain killers. Usually, it would be tedious to visit a temple situated far away from home and spend long hours in the rituals. Hence women were not allowed in the temples so that they could be at home and rest.

• No Cooking Until 'Shraadh'!!

Fact: This is mostly followed by Hindus and the superstition says this is to prevent the burning of the soul of the deceased. However, the ritual may have been started to provide time to cope with loss and provide rest to the family of the deceased.

• Meat Should Not Be Eaten On Certain Weekdays!!

Fact: A lot of Indians are non-vegetarians. Well, except on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The idea could have been to give non-vegetarians a meat-free day to cleanse their stomach.

• Eat Dahi-Cheeni Before Exam!!

Fact: Most of us have been offered curd and sugar before going for an exam or stepping out of the house. Here is the scientific reason behind this: According to Ayurveda, dahi (curd) acts as a natural coolant for your body, which helps fight the heat. At the same time, cheeni (sugar) is an essential source of glucose. When you have the two together, it cools and soothes the body and gives you an instant boost of energy to get you through the day.

• Breaking Mirror Brings Bad Luck!!

Fact: It is said that in the olden days, mirror used to be a very expensive but brittle item. To avoid negligence, ancient people from Rome started preaching that breaking mirrors will bring you seven years of bad luck. Why seven years? This is because Romans believe that it takes seven years for life to renew itself. Now, science says that mirrors are made with sand and certain chemical reactions with filtration of sand. So, many centuries ago the process was very critical and involved a great deal of work.

• Twitching Of The Eye Is Inauspicious!!

Fact: This one has different meaning in different cultures. The scientific reason is that this twitching is caused due to alcohol, stress, allergies, strain or just dry eyes.

• Do Not Step Outside During An Eclipse!!

Fact: The only reason our parents are asked us not to step out during an eclipse, is that it can cause retinal burns. Nothing Else!

• Flat Feet Bring Bad Luck!!

Fact: According to science, flat feet make it difficult for a person to walk or move, and cause pain. This was perceived to make it difficult for the person to work hard or walk long distances.

• Black Cat Crossing Your Path!!

Fact: In ancient times, people used to travel by bullock carts or horse-driven carts for long distances. When carriage animals used to see big cats and their glowing eyes on the road, they used to get spooked. This is why carriage drivers used to stop after a cat crossed the road to offer water or treats to the carriage animals to calm them down before resuming their journey.