When grasshoppers enter the house, my mother becomes so restless unless that poor creature is thrown out of the house, as she believes that it is a signifies a trouble or an arising problem. Where as my dad has a different opinion, that the green insect brings money (as if it is working hard to run the family)!! While the discussion goes on, I will be thinking about inventing a new useless belief to make them chase all the cockroaches from my house!
Lakshmi Baburajan
Class IX, The High Range School, Munnar
***
Adults always told me not to laugh a lot or I would cry the same amount. This would usually happen when the entire family would go to watch a movie. They not only prevent me from enjoying the movie but also make me anxious. As we all know that laughter is one of the greatest joys of life. Why should we be scared of laughing!?
Suchit Reddy
Class XI, P. Obul Reddy Public School, Hyderabad
***
“We are going on a trip and you can’t tell anyone about it, okay?” are the first words to tumble out of my mother’s lips when we begin to discuss our vacation. In fact, we are told to keep our mouths firmly sealed even when the date of a wedding is whispered to us. According to her, once we chat about our plans to other persons will result in the plan not running as intended. To be honest, I find following this belief mindlessly and without scientific proof is quite tiring. It is difficult to restrain myself from joining in excited conversations about visiting the Taj Mahal!
Athira Sivadas
Class VIII, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Thrissur
***
One of the superstitions that I face in my life is that girls shouldn't be play outdoors. Being a basket ball player, I get pestered every time my grandparents object to me playing. It is said that if girls play a lot outdoors they tend to develop some severe problem in there stomach! Also the tan that darkens the skin, would not go after a certain age thus creating a problem during marriage. I am not even an adult! I personally feel that this is my age to study, play, enjoy my life and not worry about my marriage.
Nikita Samdariya
Class XI, P.Obul Reddy Public School, Hyderabad
***
There is a superstition that says if a black cat your path your work won’t go well. Believers of this will lose concentration on the work and that is what will make the work worse.
C. Shanthini
Sabare Academy, Karur
***
If the belief that persistent itching in right hand means that lots of wealth will flow in was true, then all beggars would have been the richest as their dirty hands keep itching. Even I would have been a billionaire if this belief was true!
Diksha Katoch
Class XI, Holy Child Auxilium School, New Delhi
***
I grew up in a village with my parents and I often pay visits to my grandma’s house. One superstition I heard there when I was four was that if a green grasshopper came into the house, it would bring along with good luck and money! It turned out to be true a few times. My uncle got his Appointment Order the next day after my grandma saw a grasshopper in the house. Now, I know that superstitions aren’t true but, this myth is something I’m still confused about.
Abhishek.S.Peter,
Class X, Excel Central School, Thiruvattar.
***
My grandmother was widowed at an early age. She never ate non-veg, onions, or garlic. She had her own plate, glass, bowls, serving spoons, and even a table mat which only she could. As a result, my mother always had to cook for her separately. My grandmother always wore a white saree, since she was not supposed to wear any other colour, especially red. I am not okay with this superstition. Just because a woman has been widowed, does not mean she has to be deprived. And men? Men are simply encouged to get remarried if their wife dies.
Aparajita Chowdhury
Class XI, P.Obul Reddy Public School, Hyderabad
***
Once I made the mistake of calling my father as he was stepping out to go somewhere. I wanted to remind him to make a certain purchase. My grandma who was sitting in the porch looked at me as if the world was endingShe asked my father to return and made him sit down and drink a glass of water. She didn't let him move for two minutes. He left after that only to call after a little while to tell that he missed his train. My grandma scolded me saying that I was the cause since I called him from behind when he was leaving. I argued with her saying that had she not called him back and made him sit here he would have got his train.
Nandlal Premlal
Class XI, Lakeford School, Kollam
***
Whenever we buy a car, tie a rakhi , do pooja , fix a marriage or sign a business deal, we Indians always turn to look at our Indian calendar to search for a “good time”. I found this superstition irrelevant, because for all our other activities we follow the English calendar and time.
Shania Dalal,
Class X, C.S.I Bain School, Chennai.
***
When I was little, whenever my father goes outdoors I called him from back to say bye or to remind him to bring chocolates. My mother would then come scolding me saying that now my father's day had been spoiled or the work due to which he is going out won't finish successfully. I used to feel very bad thinking that my father's day had been spoiled due to me.
Manjima Mahesh
Class VIII, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 Mangalore
***
When I wish to go to temple or wear new clothes, my grandmother restricts me very often. When I ask why, she would that someone from our family has expired. And the funny thing is that this grief would be for someone whom I have not met so far or heard about.
J S Anandhu Krishna
Class X, Excel Central School, Thiruvattar.
***
The belief that the more the girl is educated, the more the harm for her family. People even today say that if a girl gets more educated then her husband will die. People in my locality also believe that a girl should not study much and should be married off as soon as possible. This superstition bothers me a lot because I have not even passed the school and the women around my locality ask my mother to look for a good boy for me. I feel disgusted because I know a girl who is around my age and her marriage has been fixed. I don't really understand that how can education hurt someone.
Nahid,
Class XI, Jamia Girls School, New Delhi.
***
Very recently I was made to sit in front of a so called 'baba' for him to counsel me on my life. He spoke of various things including my death. He said that I'll have a wonderful job & career. When I questioned him saying, “What if I sit home for the rest of my life ? Will I still have a cherished career ?”. This 'baba' concluded our session saying it was time for lunch. My parents had paid him a healthy sum of money for speaking random verses.
Pratheekh Chandra
Class XI, A.M.S. P.Obul Reddy Public School
