Gaining good luck with superstitions

The other day, I saw my friend watching the ICC Champions Trophy final on TV with his cap turned backward. He told me that it was a deliberate move to make India win the game against Pakistan. To wear a cap in a particular way and to link it with the outcome of a game sounded absurd. But those who display such kind of behaviour can go to any extent to turn the tide of unscripted events, such as the outcome of the cricket match, in favour of the team they throw their weight behind.

Such behaviour falls in the category of superstitions that spring from fear. To overcome their unfounded fears, many people behave in illogical and funny ways. The urge to conquer the unknown compels them to take recourse in irrational beliefs. This urge is as old as the history of mankind. Superstitions have been practised since time immemorial and man has been exploiting them to unravel the mysteries shrouding the universe.

Superstitions are culture specific. Across many cultures, the number 13 brings bad luck. Hotels, offices and apartments don’t recognise a 13th floor, airports do not have a gate with number 13 and many prefer to stay back at home on Friday the 13 th. But in many cultures such as Chinese and Egyptian, the 13th stage is the eternal afterlife. The basis of the superstition linked to number 13 has its roots in mythology. Judas, who betrayed Christ, was sitting at number 13 at the dining table during the Last Supper. Christians, therefore, both hate and fear number 13.

Good tidings and bad omens are often associated with superstitions. A black cat is presumed to bring bad luck. A black cat crossing one’s way is seen as a premonition of an imminent disaster. The sight of an owl in the morning augurs bad news. The cawing of the crow signals both the arrival of a guest and a tragic news.

Taboos and totems, such as putting up lemon and green chillies, also constitute a big part of superstitions.

It is as into pee under a tree. A tree is considered the abode of deities. So relieving oneself under a tree is akin to heaping insult to the Almighty.

Washing clothes on Thursday is discouraged as many believe it is the day of Khwaja, the demigod of water.

With superstitions sometimes acting as boosters, the idea to execute them gets reinforced if they yield the desired consequences by chance. They are pr act is ed to overpower ominous feelings that constantly pest era man about his impending defeat in a mission that he intends to undertake.

TO OVERCOME THEIR UNFOUNDED FEARS, MANY PEOPLE BEHAVE IN ILLOGICAL AND FUNNY WAYS. THE URGE TO CONQUER THE UNKNOWN COMPELS THEM TO TAKE RECOURSE IN SUPERSTITION