Eradicate Blind Faith

If you are an Indian, I am sure you are aware about the term "Mangalik". And if you are not, just read the next 3-4 lines to get a crisp summary (courtesy Wikipedia).

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In Indian astrology, Mangal Dosha is an astrological combination that occurs if Mars(Mangal) is in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of the ascendant chart. A person born in the presence of this condition is termed a Manglik.

This is a superstitious belief with absolutely no scientific data to back the claim and is believed to be unfavourable for marriages, causing discomfort and tension in relationship, leading to severe disharmony among the spouses and eventually to other bigger problems. This is believed to be caused due to the "fiery" nature of Mars, the Greek planet of war.

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That sounds real scary. Does the fear make people think twice about such things?

Next stop - No Moon Day.

Once again, a small snippet - courtesy Wiki (What would we do if Wiki wasn't there?)

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Amavasya (Sanskrit: अमावस्या) means new moon night in Sanskrit. 

Except for the Karttika Amavasya (Amavasya of Diwali), the Amavasya is considered inauspicious.

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Pitru Paksha (Sanskrit: पितृ पक्ष), also spelt as Pitr paksha or Pitri paksha, (literally "fortnight of the ancestors") is a 16–lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (Pitrs), especially through food offerings.

Sarvapitri Amavasya: the new moon day, is the last day of this period, when we remember our forefathers.

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What's the highest common factor between a Mangalik and the No Moon Day. 

Read further.

Remember the Mars Orbiter Mission. Yes, India's own Mars Orbiter Mission a.k.a Mangalayaan or Mars Craft.

Built on a shoe string budget of 71 Million US Dollars, India's maiden Mars Mission successfully entered the Mars (remember, its the same Mangal) orbit on 24th Sep 2014 ( a no moon day, that too the Sarvapitri Amavasya).

Travelling for a mind boggling 298 days and 466 Million KMs into outer space, Indian scientist put the MOM into orbit in its first attempt. What grace! What style!!

And this message from a friend summed up what the Mars Mission meant for India.

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See the irony..jis desh mey manglik ki shadi nahi hoti or amavasya ko kaam talte hai usi desh ke scientists ne amavasya ke din mangal par vijay paya aur vo bhi shraadh me. ...an eye opener for our blind religious beliefs

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See the irony.. In a country where a Manglik struggles to get married, and work is postponed instead of being done on a No Moon Day, the scientist of the same nation won over Mars, that too on a No Moon Day. Its an an eye opener for our blind religious beliefs.

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Need I say more??

Indian Mars Orbiter Mission