From Tying Nimbu Mirchi to Evil Eye Masks, These 5 Common Indian Superstitions to Ward Evil Eye Have No Religious Backing

If you have been born and brought up, or spent a majority of your life in Indian households, then there are a lot of superstitions that you must be following. In the advent of significant scientific discoveries and inventions, it would not be a surprise if a scientist's mother asks him to eat a bit of curd before leaving the house. Because there are certain thoughts and beliefs that are so well ingrained into the minds of the people, that they have been followed year after year without questioning. All of these superstitions are somehow to divert the evil eye or ward off any kind of negative energies which would affect the person/thing/initiative.

Superstition is defined as "excessively credulous belief in and reverence for the supernatural." And in India, we have no dearth of them. Some of them have a religious or slightly scientific backing, but most of them do not. And most of them center around warding off the evil eye. People hang certain things, amulets, symbols to keep the evil eye away. Let us look at 5 common superstitions that are followed in India pertaining to the evil eye which does not have a religious story tied to it.

Hanging Lemon and Chillies Prevents Evil

You will often see a group of lemon and chillies or Nimbu Mirchi tied on a thread and hung outside shops or below any vehicle. If there are evil spirits around, the lemon is said to turn reddish as it captures the negative energy. But wouldn't a lemon turn red even if it is kept unused for a few days?

Nazar Mask

Especially in South Indian states, a Nazar Katta Mask or a Nazar Battu is hung outside houses. This mask is either red or green in colour and has prominent big eyes. It is said to be very significant for the Vastu of a home as it wards off any evil eye overlooking the house.

Horseshoe Upside Down

At several houses, horseshoes are hung upside down on the doors. Traditionally they were nailed with exactly seven nails and the number is considered auspicious. But not everyone follows the count, but the horseshoe is hung anyway. The iron material with which it is made is said to ward off the evil spirits.

Old Shoes and Flip Flops

This is more seen in northern parts of the country where truck drivers hang old and worn-out shoes or chappals on the back of their trucks. Other than the very prevalent Nimbu Mirchi, the worn-out shoes are a tactic or rather a defence from the evils. Seeing a not so pleasant thing hanging off the vehicle will not really attract someone towards it. It essentially works as a defence mechanism.

Blue Nazar or Evil Eye

Have you seen the blue crystal symbol with an eye-like design on it? That's the amulet made to prevent the evil eye. The legend of evil eye refers to a  is a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. So this amulet itself is also called as an evil eye which is supposed to protect from it. Its often hung inside cars or people carry keychains with an evil eye amulet. The legend of the blue amulet is seen in many other cultures too. 

These are some of the things that we commonly follow in India to keep away the evil eye and warding off all evil spirits. There is no real religious significance behind each of these but these are objects which supposedly attract the negative energies and keep them away.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2019 01:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).