Crazy ways people ward off the evil eye (nazar utarna)

People resort to CRAZY ways to ward off the evil eye!

By: Naz Haider | | Published: June 30, 2017 11:15 am

Desi people have the craziest theories when it comes to parenting and child rearing. From the numerous, mostly crazy myths about pregnancies, to how one should raise a child, all the craziness is simply mind blowing. All the old aunties, the chachis and mausis are a bank of myths related to breastfeeding. But what simply blows my mind is when it comes to warding off the evil eye! If you do not what evil eye is, then don t worry, for all you know it doesn t even exist. But for most aunties and old-school believers, it is the evil eye that is behind most of the children s illnesses, tantrums and the classic, when a toddler refuses to eat. As a first time mother, I was told a lot of ways to ward off the evil eye, and most of it made me want to laugh out loud. And that was the reaction of most other moms I know, who were subjected to the stand-up comedy called warding off evil eyes. Here are a few gems that I am sharing so that we can laugh together. Also Read - 5 weight loss myths that can prevent you from slimming down during quarantine

Salt and black pepper method: This is a method, or totka as it is called in hindi, for children who don t eat well. As toddlers are wont, they are picky eaters, but ask any aunty and she will blame the evil eye for a toddler s lack of appetite. In this salt and black pepper method, you wrap salt and pepper in a piece of paper and move it in circles over the child s head, 5 or 7 times strictly. Then you burn that wrapper in fire and let it burn to ashes.
Red chilli method: Similar to salt and pepper method, in the red chilli method too you move the red chillies over the child s head and body and let it burn to ashes. This is done specifically when the child has been out or visited someone with an evil eye . How you deduce somebody of having an evil eye is beyond my knowledge.
Tying black thread to the baby s wrist and foot: The colour black is infamous for warding off the evil eye. From marking the baby s face and body with black dots to tying black thread in the baby s wrist, ankle, toe thumb, waist and around the neck is supposed to keep the evil eyes at bay for good.
Throwing some of the baby s food before feeding: If your child hasn t been eating well, throw some food out of the window before feeding the baby. Except for feeding the crows and other birds, I don t understand how this will benefit the baby. But anyway.

Do you have any of such weird and whacky ways to ward off the evil eye, or nazar utarna? Share it with us in the comments below. Also Read - 5 most common misconceptions about our bodies

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Published : June 30, 2017 11:15 am

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