What does superstition mean? As per the conventional definition, it's a belief which says that events are influenced by our behavior in some 'magical' way. In simple words we can say it’s “An extension of our blind beliefs”.
Do you know why auspicious days are chosen by the leaders for their oath taking ceremony,as they assume office? Why that cricketer kisses his locket on scoring a perfect 100? Why he keeps a special colored handkerchief? A simple reason answers all these questions; it’s the satisfaction and confidence they gain with their lucky charms.But the question I intend on asking is: Are these superstitious acts all positive? In most cases, not so.
Today when we give stress to science and modernization, we are advising children to condemn superstitions ; but deep inside we still support these superstitions and follow them and thus knowingly or unknowingly, we are transferring a kind of 'evil' to our children.
In rural areas especially- where we have illiterate masses, the practice of witchcraft, sacrificing lives of animals and men to please god and goddesses, is very common. Even a snake bite is considered as an evil omen. Whether it’s their daily life problems or a big fight, they have faith in malpractices to work as a weapon against their enemies or to jeopardize them.
People spend a lot of money on blind faith in superstition, just with the hope that these things will work and do wonders for them. The people even refuse to take allopathic and homeopathic tablets due to this misconception and at the time of misery they rely on different stones rather than scientific or practical solutions. Thus, majority of people suffer or die helplessly.
People believe that when light rain falls during a religious ceremony, it indicates a good luck and God is pleased with the ceremony. A simple bath in the river Ganges makes them free from all the evils.
But we have scientific proofs for many of our beliefs. If we take the example of Ganges: It has been discovered that a virus called bacteriophage kills the harmful bacteria of human being, is present in the river water, and makes the water pure. But my friends. have you ever given a thought about this virus factor before dipping into the Ganges?
We believe things blindly and later they are supported by scientitific reasoning.Sometimes it even happens the other way round. In many universities when scientists are not able to prove any phenomena, they simply escape by involving the supernatural power factor.
Few weeks back, three eclipses occurred back to back and it was declared by astrologers that three eclipses in a year are very inauspicious and will bring bad luck. All caesarian cases were taken before the solar eclipse just to have the baby safe and healthy.
These superstitions are not only responsible for deaths in rural areas, but also are the main reason for anxiety and depression of people in all parts of our country and even abroad. Many Nigerian women travel to Europe to work as prostitutes. They obtain special charms from juju priest and other purveyors of the paranormal in the hope that they will attract many customers.
In order to bring back the mental stability and vaporize their worries and anxieties, we need to create proper awareness regarding the same .We need to inculcate in their academic syllabus that which teaches us against blind beliefs. Special seminars should be conducted otherwise we will keep on suffering and this curse will be carried from generation to generation.
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