You might find this hard to believe! One of the charms US Prez Barack Obama carries with him is a tiny idol of Hanuman. The others are a bracelet belonging to a US soldier deployed at Afghanistan, a gambler's lucky chit and a small locket with Madonna and child. When I say Madonna and child I don't mean the singer! I mean the Christian Madonna!
Prez Obama's carrying a Hanuman idol is believed to have been influenced by his childhood spent at Indonesia. Like the hIndus here, Indonesian Hindus consider the monkey god as very powerful and a protector against evil. However, unlike the Indian Hanuman, Obama's Indonesian idol has four hands.
David Beckham
Lucky charm: Armani underwear (yes ARMANI!) and new shoes for each match.
Ever since he started representing Los Angeles Galaxy, the celebrated British footballer always wears a new pair of shoes for every match. He believes this brings him luck. Also Beckham, who models for Emporio Armani never plays a match without wearing Armani underwear.
Serena Williams
Superstition: Checks shoelaces and bounces ball five times before match.
Lucky charm: Shower sandals
The reigning Wimbledon champion never forgets to check her shoelaces before a match. According the tennis star, not tying her shoelaces properly cost her a match in 2007. Ever since that defeat, she takes double care when it comes to her shoelaces. She has another pre-match superstition - bouncing the ball five times. Her lucky charm is a pair of shower sandals that she always carries to a match. Apparently she neither bounced the ball nor carried the sandals on the day she lost the match in 2007.