This happened on Sunday, 13th September around 6pm. My mom is pretty orthodox and has superstitious beliefs to petite extent. Dad was not available at home as he went to visit my grannies. It was around 6 and mom called us (my brother and me) to be present in front of the pooja room. As expected, she had called us for drishti elimination.
Whenever someone achieves something, obviously they become prey for others jealousy. This is believed to affect the progress of that achiever. To avoid this, we have a tradition of drishti kazhikaradu(elimination of other’s influence-negative rays).Most of the South Indian people have this routine.
My mom is very authoritarian and strict while performing this practice. She wants us to unfold our hands, make our faces look stern, stand as the crow flies without animating ourselves. Generally we by hook or by crook obey all these and try to go by mom’s convictions.
This day mom called us and we were in place. My brother-the real culprit giggled and on seeing this I couldn’t stop myself from laughing, but he stood as if nothing happened when mom glanced at him. I was laughing round the bend and this amplified mom’s tension. I tried to control and kept my mouth firm but I messed up. I laughed to a great extent that the lighted camphor blew off when it came near me. Mom started gnashing her teeth and she shouted. I told her the reason to be my brother and this fellow acted as if he didn’t know anything about this. I told sorry for around 12 times to my mom and she started again, re lighting the camphor. The same happened this time also- I laughed and on seeing me my brother got diverted and we laughed aloud together.
Though Mom grew wild ,we triumphed pacifying her .I fell into her feet feeling sorry for the act (actually to escape the scolding and mollify her) .We controlled ourselves and she successfully completed the ritual. I felt macabre at the end for not respecting the tradition. I am sure that I won’t iterate it again in the future.
