Shouldn't it be a sight to see lemons and chillies in front of the shop? Not at all! You will be shocked to hear the real scientific reason behind this.

Every Saturday at Bandre Saka, we see lemons and chillies hanging in front of shops, lorries and doorsteps. People do this so that "Alakshmi" or Goddess of Light does not come in and is not seen.

But the real thing is, our elders invented it to repel insects! Yes, it was the most powerful “Natural Pesticide” of that time.

In the past, there were no coils or all outs like now. This lemon-chili thread was the idea they made to protect themselves from poisonous insects.

What is the science behind that thread?

You may have noticed that cotton thread is always used to feed lemons and chillies. This thread absorbs lemon juice (Acid) and chilli pepper (Capsaicin) very well.

Whenever the wind blows, this thread will spread the lemon and chili pepper into the air. This smell is not very familiar to humans, but it is a smell that cannot be tolerated by small creatures.

No entry for mosquitoes and flies

Generally ants, flies and mosquitoes come from shops selling jaggery, sugar or snacks. Since this barrier is at the door, these insects are afraid to enter the shop.

It is said that even poisonous snakes or scorpions are not even close to this smell. Our ancestors used this technique to prevent many diseases that spread during rainy season.

Why change once a week?

Every Saturday or new moon day, you will see that old lemons are removed and new ones are planted. The reason for this is that within a week the lemons will have dried up and their smell will be lacking.

Its repellent power is less, that's why the old one should be thrown away and fresh fruit should be harvested. People now think of this as a mere tradition.

Story and logic of Alakshmi

According to Puranas, Panchaprana is sour and salty for Lakshmi's older sister Alakshmi (goddess of poverty). So that she should not come inside the shop and spoil the riches, they put her favorite snack at the door.

It is believed that she eats sweet and sour at the door, gets relieved and goes back from there. The real meaning of this is that negative energy or diseases do not enter the house.

last word

From now on, don't laugh at someone picking lemons as superstition. It is a scientific shield to protect their health.

If you have too many mosquitoes in your house, try this desi idea instead of using chemical spray.

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Disclaimer

Note:This article explains the practical reasons behind traditional practices. It is scientifically known that lemon and chili have natural insect repellent properties. However, it is not a complete alternative to modern pest control methods.