superstitious beliefs of Yasin.
The number 13 is disliked globally, because it is considered unlucky by many people around the world. People, in west especially, dread anything related to number 13.The bearer of this number is believed to be a sure victim of misfortune and disaster. That is why most of the hotels, in west, do not have a room number13, as guests don not likes to lodge in a room bearing the vile effects of number 13.
Fearing number 13 and giving it an unlucky aura is a common western superstition. Superstitions are not exclusive to west, or any particular culture or society, they rather, exist everywhere, be it the rich, industrialized and hi-tech western world or the poor, less-developed eastern world. These beliefs have been part of man’s journey throughout from the Stone Age to the super-developed scientific age of today, when science has unveiled the hitherto unknown secrets of universe and exposed the truth of myths and superstitions already. But despite all the scientific knowledge and progress today’s man is as superstitious as was the man of cave.
Most people would disagree and say that they at least don’t believe in this entire superstitious thing. For such a lot it can be said that they take after Newton.
Newton, the renowned scientist, who is said to have a horseshoe hung over his front door. It was a wide-spread belief at that time, that horseshoe brings good luck to the house .when someone asked Newton if he really believed in that kind of thing, he said. “No I don’t. But I am told it works anyway”.
So exist superstitions, in almost every society even today, because they work anyway for so many people, and also because, they are edifying and didactic despite being simple and naive. The Burushoo society is one such example where simple superstitions can still be found. Though it is not possible to bring them all in black and white in a single article, yet a few important and interesting superstitions, still prevalent, are listed below for the knowledge and curiosity of the readers.
Whenever a person sets out on a journey the family members make sure the traveler avoids contact with any ill-omened or inauspicious person. It is believed such a jinxed fellow can bring bad luck and a contact with the traveler would bring harm or calamity to him during his travel. Therefore the families instead arrange a meeting with an auspicious fellow beforehand, a man with a lucky aura, on the gate. They believe that a first contact with this person would ensure the safety of the traveler.
Another interesting superstition is associated with the harvest yield especially wheat. When a household brings their first yield of wheat home, they make a small bread of it and give it to a person who has a slack and sluggish disposition.it is believed that his priority-first bite will elongate the provision of their yield-stack.
Similarly a very amusing superstitious belief, usually popular among mothers, is related to the chicken-gizzard which is called ‘Phutt’ in Burushaski language. The literal meaning of ‘Phutt’ is blunt and it is believed that if a child is allowed to eat the chicken-gizzard the ominous effects of the gizzard will render the child blunt striping him of all his mental shrewdness. Therefore, mothers take special care to keep their kids away from eating ‘phutt’ lest it should blunt the child’s mental faculties .My mother used to admonish me whenever my mouth slobbered at the sight of chicken-gizzard ,in my child-hood of course ,and would say, ”Son! You will become blunt like this ‘Phutt’ and will never be able to do well in your school”. (It is, therefore, advised to avoid Phutt, and better spare it for your most competent class-fellow.)
Another belief widespread among the circle of student community is about the class teacher’s chair. Students believe (at least we believed and hope the younger lot follows suit) that siting on the teacher’s chair is tantamount to sin. And the sinner is sure to fail in his/her exam. Therefore students avoid sitting on their teacher’s chair fearing failure in exams.
An amusing superstition, among Burushoos, is related to kids. It is believed that if all of a sudden a kid started peeping through his legs ,as kids often do by stooping down and pushing their head between their wide-apart legs .It is a sure sign that some unwanted guests are about to turn up. Kids, therefore, face a strict vigilance so that they could be stopped from inviting some unwelcome guests.
These few interesting superstitious beliefs of the Burushoos; though funny, simple and often devoid of logic, are very important to understand the collective thought-process and cultural orientation of the society. More importantly these superstitious beliefs and explanations are needled with the answers, although primitive and naive, to man’s important questions about the complex phenomena of cause and effect.