Adults and youngsters often ridicule rituals. Most do not know that there is a strong scientific base underlying most Zoroastrian and other religions’ rituals.
From very early childhood my sister and I had learnt this from our (formally) uneducated but deeply knowledgeable maternal grandmother.
Chalk chandan is done by Parsis using lime powder which has germicidal properties. Choona or lime powder was used in earlier times to whitewash houses annually so that the germs and grime of the year are wiped away. Chalk is an expeller of germs from our doorways.
Parsis had a ritual of doing the kusti after each visit to the toilet. Perhaps this was to ensure that we washed our hands well before attending to any work as cleanliness is next to godliness.
Segregation for 40 days after childbirth and for three to four days during menses was not as ridiculous as we think! In earlier times, when the importance of rest at such times was not known, segregation from the family was the only way that women who had just delivered could be excused from doing work or being approached for sex by their husbands. Also, hygiene was maintained.
There may be many more such rituals. Human beings often forget to be regular about taking medicines or tonics which they do faithfully when a ritual has to be followed. Religious teachers made religion for our mental and physical well being. So please do not spurn or mock rituals as superstitions. They are not.
MEHER D. DHONDY
Gurgaon