10 Indian Traditions And The Amazing Scientific Reasons Behind Them

Indianculture is famous for its traditions. Some of these traditions are evenconsidered superstitious. However, with the improvement in modern science, it is becoming clearer why so many of these traditions are being followed by Indians for such a long time.

Here is your opportunity to learn more about the various unique traditions that you would only see Indian households follow. And if you happen to be part of an Indian household, here is your chance to learn a little more about the scientific reasoning behind why your ancestors decided to follow certain rules and regulations. Below are ten of the most popular Indian traditions and the scientific explanation behind them.

1. Greeting People By Joining Both Hands And Saying “Namaste”

In Indian culture, people greet each other by joining their palms together. This way of greeting people is described as “Namaskar.” Traditionally speaking, people believe that this is a way of showing your respect to other people while greeting them. However, according to science, when you choose to perform a “Namaskar” to greet someone it is more than just for showing respect. By joining both palms together, you ensure that all your fingertips are also pressed together. A person’s fingertips are denoted as the pressure points for a person’s mind, ears, and eyes. This way, when you greet someone with a “Namaskar,” you will be able to remember his or her voices and faces better. Furthermore, this form of greeting does not involve any sort of physical contact. This means that there is a lower chance for you to contract germs from whomever you meet.

2. It Is Recommended Not To Cut Your Nails At Night

Although this one does not involve any sort of scientific reasoning, it doeshave a logical one. Electricity was not invented until the 19^th century, which means that people could injure themselves trying to cut their nails in the low level of lighting at night.

3. It Is Recommended To Take A Bath After Attending A Funeral 

Once a person passes away, their body stops functioning. This means that it is no longer able to fight germs and diseases. Being close to a dead body can put your own body at risk to the germs that it may be carrying. Therefore, it is always recommended to take a bath after visiting a funeral.

4. Eating Meals On The Floor

The idea is not to simply eat while sitting on the floor. People are meant to sit in a cross-legged yoga position, referred to as “Sukhasan”, while eating. By sitting in this position, your body relaxes and sends a message to your stomach to start the digestive processes.

5. We Begin Every Meal With Spice AndFinish It With Sweet

People in the olden times always stressed upon the fact that we must always start every meal with spice and leave any sweet dishes for the end of the meal. The scientific reasoning behind this tradition is the fact that eating spicy food activates the digestive system, which helps ensure that the entire digestive process runs smoothly. Sweet foods that are rich in carbohydrates and sugars tend to slow down the digestive process, which may increase the amount of time food spends in your stomach and lead to bloating.

6. It Is Recommended Not To Sweep The Floor At Night

People in the olden times used to think that sweeping the floor at night was a sign of bad luck. They were not mistaken to think so too. This is because sweeping the floor at night when the lighting is low may lead you to sweep away tiny valuables as well!

7. It Is Prohibited For Girls To Step Into The Kitchen During Their Periods

We all know that with periods come symptoms of PMS. Now to prevent girls from taking extra pressure, people in the olden times recommended themto take a break from chores such as cooking food.

8. People Should Not Cook When There Is A Death In The Family 

The reason behind this tradition is to give the mourning family some time to rest and recover.

9. Washing Hair On Tuesdays And Thursdays

Old people say that you must avoid washing your hair on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The reason – they know the value of water!

10. Fasting During Navratras 

Navratras come twice in a year. At both the times, theycome at a time when we are transitioning from one season to another. By fasting during these times, we clear our body of toxins and gain positive energy as we prepare for the new season.

The traditions that were considered superstitions in the past are now being backed by scientific evidence. Make sure to follow your traditions sincerely as they will help you spiritually as well as scientifically!

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Chandrama Deshmukh

   

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