Essay On Superstition...
During the last school holidays. I went on a motoring tour of Rawalpindi Pakistan. I was scheduled to begin my journey from home at 3 o'clock one fine afternoon. The time was nearing three and I was jotting ready to leave the house when I heard my mother calling me.
"What do you want, Mum'?" I asked, -Son, don't leave the house exactly at three; but leave a few minutes after three. That will be all right,- remarked Mum.
Whether we believe in superstitions or not, the fact is that most of us are superstitious. Many of these superstitions may be absurd; but the sense of mystery and awe in these superstitions gives us delight and excitement.
It is quite interesting and amusing to observe some of these superstitions. Old people tell us that on All Souls Day we must keep pots and jars filled with water outside the house and in the compounds. as the thirsty souls of the dead on parole from purgatory on that day. will be coming to drink water.
Now what about the practise of throwing old shoes after the wedding pair as a sign of good luck? There are many such interesting and amusing superstitions. Some superstitions are noted for their element of mystery and awe. An owl making its appearance in our compound or birds flying at the windows is interpreted by old people as a bad omen presaging the death of a relative.
Such fears and awe haunted the minds of the primitive people who could not find an explanation for many of the phenomena of nature like flood, thunder, rain, earthquake and so on.
In the absence of a known cause, they attributed ill these to the work of some unknown powers -- both good and bad.
Man, however, was not helpless. His ingenuity suggested that through offerings and rituals, he could alpease these hidden powers, thereby warding off fearful consequerces. In many Asian countries, peasants make offerings to God to appease His wrath, so that there may not be crop failure due to delayed rain.
Superstitions give us a foreknowledge of evil and good. This enables us to take appropriate and timely action by rituals and other means to avert the evil or to welcome and make sure of the good. It is supposed that a bride will bring ill luck if she stumbles on crossing the threshold. But for this there is a remedy.
The bridegroom should carry her over. Number thirt..!en is regarded as an unlucky number. People, therefore, are careful to avoid this number in any of their important dealings. I know of people who even refuse to occupy room number thirteen in hotels. By• following superstitions, we are told that we can make sure of good luck and make the future suit, us very conveniently. There old shoes after the wedding pair. It can bring good luck to the newly-married couple. If the horseshoes is fixed the right way up on the door of the house, good fortune will smile on us. A girl can make sure of handsome husband by eating the last cake on the plate.
Some the these superstitions are humorous. Others are certainly ridiculous. A few are very frightening well. Generally, they are exciting and interesting, and not as dull and matter-of-fact as the scientific world of cause and effect. We feel the excitement of fear and the anxiety of bad luck; but they also show a way to avoid danger and bad luck. How happy I would be if I could change the course of my fortune by the simple act of fixing the horse-shoe the right way up on the door of my house. Boundless will be the joy of the girl who can get a handsome husband by eating the last cake from the plate. It is the element of fear, anxiety. misfortunate and absurdity that makes the world of superstition fascinating and interesting.
During the last school holidays. I went on a motoring tour of Rawalpindi Pakistan. I was scheduled to begin my journey from home at 3 o'clock one fine afternoon. The time was nearing three and I was jotting ready to leave the house when I heard my mother calling me.
"What do you want, Mum'?" I asked, -Son, don't leave the house exactly at three; but leave a few minutes after three. That will be all right,- remarked Mum.
"What is wrong in leaving now?-
"Oh. you know, this hour is not a good time to set out on a journey. You may have to face unpleasant experiences. Anyway, not that I believe in superstitions. but just to please my mother. I left the house only after three. Most people claim they are not superstitious; but in actual fact they practise the most absurd kind of superstitions. It is just like the fellow who, to prove that he does not believe in ghosts, is prepared to spend a night a house reputed to be haunted.Whether we believe in superstitions or not, the fact is that most of us are superstitious. Many of these superstitions may be absurd; but the sense of mystery and awe in these superstitions gives us delight and excitement.
It is quite interesting and amusing to observe some of these superstitions. Old people tell us that on All Souls Day we must keep pots and jars filled with water outside the house and in the compounds. as the thirsty souls of the dead on parole from purgatory on that day. will be coming to drink water.
Now what about the practise of throwing old shoes after the wedding pair as a sign of good luck? There are many such interesting and amusing superstitions. Some superstitions are noted for their element of mystery and awe. An owl making its appearance in our compound or birds flying at the windows is interpreted by old people as a bad omen presaging the death of a relative.
Such fears and awe haunted the minds of the primitive people who could not find an explanation for many of the phenomena of nature like flood, thunder, rain, earthquake and so on.
In the absence of a known cause, they attributed ill these to the work of some unknown powers -- both good and bad.
Man, however, was not helpless. His ingenuity suggested that through offerings and rituals, he could alpease these hidden powers, thereby warding off fearful consequerces. In many Asian countries, peasants make offerings to God to appease His wrath, so that there may not be crop failure due to delayed rain.
Superstitions give us a foreknowledge of evil and good. This enables us to take appropriate and timely action by rituals and other means to avert the evil or to welcome and make sure of the good. It is supposed that a bride will bring ill luck if she stumbles on crossing the threshold. But for this there is a remedy.
The bridegroom should carry her over. Number thirt..!en is regarded as an unlucky number. People, therefore, are careful to avoid this number in any of their important dealings. I know of people who even refuse to occupy room number thirteen in hotels. By• following superstitions, we are told that we can make sure of good luck and make the future suit, us very conveniently. There old shoes after the wedding pair. It can bring good luck to the newly-married couple. If the horseshoes is fixed the right way up on the door of the house, good fortune will smile on us. A girl can make sure of handsome husband by eating the last cake on the plate.
Some the these superstitions are humorous. Others are certainly ridiculous. A few are very frightening well. Generally, they are exciting and interesting, and not as dull and matter-of-fact as the scientific world of cause and effect. We feel the excitement of fear and the anxiety of bad luck; but they also show a way to avoid danger and bad luck. How happy I would be if I could change the course of my fortune by the simple act of fixing the horse-shoe the right way up on the door of my house. Boundless will be the joy of the girl who can get a handsome husband by eating the last cake from the plate. It is the element of fear, anxiety. misfortunate and absurdity that makes the world of superstition fascinating and interesting.
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