Have you heard of those sacred threads, once used to come – just like the Ford Model T, any colour as long as it’s black? Usually they are supposedly from Kasi or Tirupathi. The fad then, as is now, is to tie them up on the wrists, in the belief that the black colour wards off the evil eye. These days, I believe threads are available in many colours, or even multi-colours. But the colour of the thread is beside the point.
Someone who returned from Kashi – Varasani or Benaras – presented some kashi black thread, and the ganga jal, the usual take backs on visiting Kashi to my mother. As mother’s do, she pestered me to tie one up on my wrist.
So, yesterday, I tied one up. Little did I realise that the cotton, of which the thread is made of, has the nasty habit of ‘shrinking’ once dipped in water and dried. Like the proverbial vilage idiot, to appear stylish, tied it up as a perfect fit. Woke up today morning with a slight ache in the wrist, and near the elbow of the arm.
About three hours later, it felt like the ache had intensified. As I had not lifted, shifted, carried, or worked anything heavy yesterday, a Sunday, except flipping through the Sunday Times, and Chronicle, it had me puzzled. Sitting down for breakfast ws an Eureka moment. I saw the black thread, which had shrunk, constricting the arm, as if it was a tourniquet. No wonder it felt like the muscles were traumatized – because, they were.
A snip of the scissors, a little bit of massage, and a hot compress cleared up the remnants of the pain. That told me why my mom insisted that I keep a finger along the wrist before I tied the thread, which I disregarded. Old people do know a few tricks!
Moral of the story?
Just because it is traditional, or said to be religious, do not follow anything blindly. Else, instead of warding of evil eye, it might make you a bye-bye. And listen to your elders!
Someone who returned from Kashi – Varasani or Benaras – presented some kashi black thread, and the ganga jal, the usual take backs on visiting Kashi to my mother. As mother’s do, she pestered me to tie one up on my wrist.
So, yesterday, I tied one up. Little did I realise that the cotton, of which the thread is made of, has the nasty habit of ‘shrinking’ once dipped in water and dried. Like the proverbial vilage idiot, to appear stylish, tied it up as a perfect fit. Woke up today morning with a slight ache in the wrist, and near the elbow of the arm.
About three hours later, it felt like the ache had intensified. As I had not lifted, shifted, carried, or worked anything heavy yesterday, a Sunday, except flipping through the Sunday Times, and Chronicle, it had me puzzled. Sitting down for breakfast ws an Eureka moment. I saw the black thread, which had shrunk, constricting the arm, as if it was a tourniquet. No wonder it felt like the muscles were traumatized – because, they were.
A snip of the scissors, a little bit of massage, and a hot compress cleared up the remnants of the pain. That told me why my mom insisted that I keep a finger along the wrist before I tied the thread, which I disregarded. Old people do know a few tricks!
Moral of the story?
Just because it is traditional, or said to be religious, do not follow anything blindly. Else, instead of warding of evil eye, it might make you a bye-bye. And listen to your elders!
I'll have to remember this advice. Maybe I should tie a string around my finger to help me remember ?
ReplyDeleteYou are a riot +ted kelly
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