Bizarre Superstition! Two Youths In Odisha’s Koraput District Declared ‘Dead’ As They Saw Mating Of Two Crows
Two young men were subjected to a symbolic funeral ritual after they on July 28 witnessed the mating of two crows, an act considered highly inauspicious in local tribal traditions
Bhubaneswar: In a shocking display of superstition prevailing in the tribal-dominated areas of Koraput district in Odisha, a disturbing incident has come to light in Patraguda village under Randapalli panchayat, just 10 kilometers from Jeypore city.
Two young men were subjected to a symbolic funeral ritual after they on July 28 witnessed the mating of two crows, an act considered highly inauspicious in local tribal traditions.
According to the tribal community's beliefs, seeing two crows mating is an ill omen that portends death. To counteract this perceived curse, the villagers on July 29 declared the two youths "dead" and performed a ritualistic cremation. Instead of actual bodies, symbolic effigies made of grass were carried in a funeral procession to the cremation ground, where they were ceremonially burnt, following traditional last rites.
A viral video of the procession has sparked widespread discussion in the region. After the ritualistic cremation, the villagers performed purification ceremonies and partook in a communal meal, as is customary after funerals. Only then were the two youths, who were kept outside the village during the ritual, allowed to return home.
“This incident has highlighted the deep-rooted superstitions that continue to persist in tribal areas, even in the modern age of science and technology. This bizarre event has raised concerns about the influence of such practices in remote areas and underscores the need for awareness and education to combat harmful superstitions,” said T. Gouri Shankar, a senior journalist based in Jeypore. Local authorities were yet to comment on the incident.
