Superstition is a legacy handed down through families in India, albeit unknowingly. While most are largely harmless, such as tying amulets or eating a teaspoon of curd and sugar before an important exam or interview, there are a few, such as human sacrifice, that tread extremely dangerous ground. That it took a law in Maharashtra in 2013 to ensure superstitious practices were brought to an end, proves just how deeply embedded they are in the country's psyche.

A report in this newspaper yesterday about a group from Kalyan organising a picnic for students of Std XI and above at a crematorium on amavasya ki raat, came as a breath of fresh air. The purpose of the picnic is to show students that superstitions about ghosts roaming about on amavasya are baseless and irrational. It is heartening to note that 100 students have already registered for the activity, which means there will be at least that many who will grow up into rational minded adults.