HAMARI SANSKRITI......

 COMMON  INDIAN  RITUALS  THAT 

ARE  SURPRISINGLY  LOGICAL

INDIA  is a pristine land of innumerable traditions and rituals.Although , despite having witnessed or belonged to this rich society we lock the understanding behind several rituals and brand them superstitious and meaningless. Reading this article till the end you will be amazed and proud to know how thoughtful our ancestors were in designing various rituals and customs for our holistic wellbeing....

 1. What is the concept behind doing a prayer before the meal?

 

In every Indian meal, no matter what religion we come from, we always start with a prayer, it is simple that prayer instantly calms down our mind, and when we eat with a calm mind we can eat food with more awareness which ultimately leads to better assimilation of nutrients present in the food.

 2. What is the significance of Navratri ?

Navratri means nine auspicious nights.It is observed once in the beginning of summer and next in the beginning of winters. It is celebrated at the two junctures of seasonal change as the seasons change the inner chemistry of human beings also changes. During this transition the body's immunity goes down hill, we are more vulnerable to infections.... so observing fast was found to be an intelligent way to handle the situation ...Even if you are not fasting it was advice to keep your diet light during the navratries. This so called superstition was not only a way to prevent diseases  but also a smart half yearly detox routine.

3. Why is peepal tree worshipped by Indians?

This is because the peepal tree exhales and extremely an high amount of oxygen during the day. Women were advised to walk around the peepal tree early in the morning for easy conception .The purpose of keeping an idol was to give them all the more reasons to follow this practice diligently.

4. Why is it said that Ghosts reside on the peepal tree at night?

The fact is that the peepal tree due to its dense nature also releases very high carbon dioxide in the night . Naturally anyone sleeping under the peepal tree will be oxygen deprived . 

5. Why is tulsi plant considered sacred in Indian culture ?

  

It is a natural antibiotic       reduces stress , increases     immunity longevity and   has a peculiar ability to   keep the insects ,   mosquitoes and snakes at   bay .

6. What is the significance of Make - up ?Apart from asthetic appeal...

Eyeliner was designed as a way of applying cooked medicinal herbs such as Amalaki , Haritaki and berberry to keep the eyes clean , cool and prevent them from infections. 

7. Why do Indian women wear Gold jewellery? Is there any health aspect to it ?

 Gold jewellery worn by Indian   women is not merely a status symbol   but it regulates the body temperature   and enhances immunity . 

8. The various rings worn by Indian women on nose , ears and even toe have a deeper significance apart from outside beauty..

Then you will be amazed to know that the bangles , nose ring , earrings and  toe rings was an intelligent way of constantly pressing the accupressure to help omen regulate menstrual cycles and maintain an ideal hormonal balance.

9. Why do man and woman apply Mehendi (henna) on hands and feet?

 During weedings bride and groom apply mehendi on the hand and feet as mehendi leaves produce a cooling effect and reduces stress of the busy weeding days. All in all - all these rituals have certain meaning behind them.

10. What is the significance of the pooja rituals ?

Why Indian puja involves so many precise rituals ? Whether it is a temple , mosque , or a gurudwara these are the places with high positive energy. 

11. Why people are advised to walk barefoot in temples?

The devotees are asked to walk barefoot inside the place of worship as the positive vibrations can easily be absorb  through feet . 

12. What is the significance of blowing Shankh (conch shell) ?

During the aarti  of a deity the cone shell would invariably be blown as it is done even today, since villages were generally small the sound of the shankh would re- sound all over the village,those who could not make it to the temple would stop whatever they were doing for a few seconds and mentally bow down to the almighty .

13. Why is Yagna performed ?

It might seem like a futile exercise of burning heat herbs etc to ashes ; although it is sophisticated process , practices since the vedic times to purify the surroundings .

14. Why is coconut broken at the beginning of new venture or in front of a deity ?

When we offer a coconut at the feet of a deity  we symbolically offer our own head  implying total surrender to the divine by detaching our ego from the self.

15. Why an Indian meal start with spicy food and ends with a sweet ?

It is a fact that every meal should start with a spicy food and ends with a sweet ..... It is well known that when we eat spicy food the body secretes  digestive juices ensuring a smooth and efficient digestive process . Thus  a meal starts off with spicy courses first , sweets at the end not only gives us a pleasant taste but are also associated with the feeling of satiety . It is amazing the insights our ancestors had about the subtle chemical functioning of our body.

So , this clearly explains how Indian superstitions were well thought of considering the various aspects of life.