A Superstition That Killed 11 Members of the Same Household

In many cultures around the world, superstitions and beliefs in the supernatural have been deeply ingrained for centuries.

While some of these beliefs can be harmless or even comforting, others can have devastating consequences when taken too seriously.

One such superstition led to the tragic deaths of 11 members of a single household in India.

I recently watched an Indian documentary called ‘THE HOUSE OF SECRETS’. This is the documentary on the above-mentioned case.

I was very disturbed to see such an unfortunate incident merely because of unawareness.

That is why I am sharing it here. Maybe it creates some awareness and helps someone.

The Story

The incident took place in the town of Burari, in the northern state of Delhi, in June 2018. The members of the family were found dead inside their home, hanging from the ceiling in a ritualistic manner.

The police investigation that followed revealed that the family had been following a bizarre and dangerous superstition, which they believed would bring them good luck and prosperity.

The family was led by an elderly woman named Narayani Devi, who was believed to be the spiritual head of the household. According to her beliefs, the family needed to perform a series of rituals and sacrifices in order to appease the gods and attract good fortune.

These rituals included fasting, meditation, and other forms of self-mortification.

However, the most dangerous aspect of the family’s superstition was their belief in a supernatural entity known as “Chundawat,” which they believed would come to them in their dreams and give them instructions on how to perform the rituals.

The family believed that following these instructions was crucial for their success and survival.

Tragically, this belief proved to be fatal for the family.

In the days leading up to their deaths, they had been preparing for a major ritual, which they believed would bring them immense wealth and prosperity.

The family had purchased 11 stools, which they used to hang themselves from the ceiling in a group.

They believed that this would appease the gods and bring them good luck.

The police investigation into the incident revealed that the family members had not been forced into performing the ritual. Rather, they had willingly followed the superstition in the hope of improving their lives.

The tragedy has since raised concerns about the dangers of blind faith and the need for education and awareness to combat such dangerous beliefs.

Superstitions in India

There are several cases like this happening in India. Okay, I agree the degree of extremeness is lower, but we can not ignore the numbers.

Let us see the kinds of superstition that prevail in India.

Most of my Indian readers can easily relate to one of the following statements:

1. Please don’t look back when you are heading out for something important.
2. Don’t call anyone from back when they are leaving the house.
3. Don’t sweep the floor on the day someone starts the travel.
4. Don’t cut your nails and hair on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
5. Only eat non-vegetarian foods on some specific days of the week.
6. It’s not good if a cat crosses your way. It brings bad luck.

I can easily list 100s of such points I have grown up listening to.

Hey hey.. Wait!

These are the minor ones. There are more dangerous ones, like the one in the story above.

I can even list a few of them.

1. Don’t seek medical help because the illness appeared by a curse or evil eye. Doing so will only worsen the problem.
2. Get-rich-quick schemes or gambling based on superstitions have led people to go bankrupt overnight.
3. A belief that people of a certain race or caste are unlucky may lead to discrimination or exclusion.

These are a few common, so to-say ‘standard’ superstitions found in India.

Then comes the small ones that people make based on the coincidences they have had.

For example,

A friend at my university used to leave the bulb on while going to the examination.

Her belief was:

Switching off the bulb had a direct connection with her performance in the examination.

Another friend wore the same dress in every exam for four years. Because she believed it was her lucky dress.

You see,

Superstition in any form is dangerous. It harms you not only physically and financially but also mentally.

It doesn’t matter how big or small the impact is; we should always refrain from such a mindset.

Final Thoughts

The case of the Burari family is a tragic example of the dangers of superstition and blind faith.

While beliefs in the supernatural can provide comfort and solace, it is crucial to approach them with caution and skepticism.

Education and awareness are key in combating dangerous superstitions, and it is essential that we encourage critical thinking and rationality in our communities.

By doing so, we can prevent tragedies like the one that befell the Burari family and ensure a safer, more rational society for all.

That’s a wrap!

Note: The documentary is available on NETFLIX in case you want to watch it too.