A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown.
Superstition is a way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and/or a faith in magic or luck. Superstitions that may be considered “good” tend to be about the belief in the unstable resource of luck. Superstitions that are considered “bad” tend to be based on fear of the unknown.
People still hold faith healers in high regard and ignore medical advice resulting in deaths of numerous pregnant women, infants and patients.
Some of the superstitions that is followed in Nepal are:
- A cat crossing your way: If a cat, black in particular, crosses your way, it is a belief that you should not cross that [hypothetical] line on the road until something else passes that way. It is believed to bring you bad luck. But, if you are in a rush, it is considered okay to throw a stone and walk past the line.
- Looking at upside-down shoes or sandals: If you are going out or have something important to do, and on the way out, you see any upside-down sandals or shoes, this is believed to ruin your work. It is another form of bad luck. One should always turn them back before leaving.
- Cutting nails at night: If you cut nails at night, something bad will happen. Your elders scold you whenever you cut your nails at night. Some believe misplacing the cut nails means one will misplace the wealth too or ruin their work.
- Shaving or cutting hair on birthdays: One should not shave or cut their hair on birthdays as people believe this will lead to shortening of one’s life span or s/he might get ill.
- Newlyweds staying together in the first malamas: If a newly married couple stays together or has sex during the month of malamas, it is believed to affect or shorten the life of the husband. It is also said that if they conceive during this month, an unhealthy child will be born. This is why there is a ritual that new brides spend their first malamas at their parents’ home, away from their husbands.
- Hanging chillies and lemon: Inside the business or shops, one can see people hanging some chillies and lemon on the doorstep. Hanging chillies and lemon is believed to protect the owner and business from bad spirits.
- Gifting a mirror: One should not give a newly married couple a mirror. Gifting a mirror to a married couple is believed to ruin their married life.
- Sound of dog’s howling: It is said if a dog cries in front of your house, someone will die from the family. So, everyone can be seen stopping it.
- Giving birth on a new moon: It is believed that if a woman gives birth on the new moon (aunshi), people believe the child will not have good luck in life.
- Whistling inside home/office: If you whistle inside the home, you are sure to have been scolded by your mom. It is believed when you whistle, the wealth from your home/office will go out. Another belief surrounding it is the whistling invites snakes to the home.
- Hanging chillies and lemon: Inside the business or shops, one can see people hanging some chillies and lemon on the doorstep. Hanging chillies and lemon is believed to protect the owner and business from bad spirits.
- Travelling on Tuesdays: If a person travels or comes back home on Tuesdays, it is believed there will be a fight between the partners or with any other family members. So, most of the Nepalis avoid their travel on Tuesdays.