Between Luck and Lore

Are you superstitious?

Growing up in a small town in India, it’s quite unlikely to not come across superstitions. No, not coz of my parents. My parents were and till date are extremely strong-willed people to not give in to any such beliefs. However, I was quite influenced by my peers from school and so much that I became a staunch believer of some of these superstitions.

I remember this quite distinctly. My friends and I used to walk back from school. And every single time we spotted a black cat crossing the road, we’d stop and wait, to let some vehicle pass by before we could resume our walk back home. Poor cat, bearing the weight of our unhealthy beliefs!
Another superstition amongst school kids was that spotting an even number of the common myna birds would bring good luck, but spot an odd number of them and terrible things would befall the beholder.

Superstitions in India (and I can only speak for India really) are not merely about warding off bad luck or inviting good fortune. They are deeply intertwined with the cultural, religious, and social fabric of the country. They reflect the hopes, fears, and aspirations of a people who have, for centuries, sought to find meaning and order in the chaos of existence.

While the ones I’ve cited above are absolutely kiddish, there are some very strong beliefs that people hold till today.
For instance, sweeping after sunset was a feat to be definitely avoided. It was said that prosperity and luck could be swept away with the dust. And this was followed religiously at my papa’s village (where he was born and brought up till he stepped out to study and eventually make a living). So I questioned papa about this weird concept. Papa sat me down and explained that the concept had birthed at an age when there was no electricity in the Indian subcontinent. Now sweeping in the dark (after sunset) would mean sweeping away in the dark, even tiny valuable items had something fallen, and which would not be visible in the dark (now relate that to prosperity being swept away with the dust). Or one could step onto something in the dirt and get hurt. And boy, it totally made sense but only in that scenario.

Another rather scary superstitious belief which comes to mind is the practice of covering mirrors in the bedroom. And if becomes even more important if the mirror is positioned in front of the bed.
The practice of covering mirrors, particularly at night, stems from the age-old belief that mirrors are not just reflective surfaces but gateways to another realm. According to some Indian beliefs, mirrors have the power to attract spirits or energies, and during the night, when the veil between the physical and the spiritual world is considered to be at its thinnest, uncovered mirrors could serve as portals for undesirable entities or energies.
Besides spirits, mirrors are also thought to reflect and amplify energy. Covering them at night is believed to help contain one’s personal energy and protect from external negative energies while people are most vulnerable during sleep.

Fun fact: There was a very popular Indian horror television series which I used to religiously watch as a kid. No matter how scary, I couldn’t let go a single episode. And Aahat didn’t just leave a lasting legacy on Indian television but even in my life. One of the episodes was based on the above superstition and it has lived with me till date 🙈 I cannot sleep with a mirror facing my bed. Hell, I cannot even look at a mirror in the dark 😄

So, coming back to the question of whether I’m superstitious. For the majority part of it, I’m not, though there are a few such nuances that I might have, none of which are harmful to anybody or me.

To conclude, it’s worth understanding these prevalent superstitious practices, however quaint or irrational they might seem. These are far more than just relics of a bygone era. These superstitions serve as the bridge between the past and the present and also a mirror reflecting the collective consciousness of the people. The more we try to understand them, the better we’ll understand our roots and evolution and maybe even start appreciating of how far along we’ve come in this journey of life.