Ridding The ill effects of Evil Eye "Nazar Utarna"

Waving the money around Geet's head

The ridding of the effects of the evil eye' is a very popular practice and is known as 'Nazar Utarna'. It is commonly believed that all kinds of illnesses, pains, epileptic fits and handicaps are caused by the 'evil eye', or because one is possessed by an evil spirit Bhuta, Preta, Pishacha. Unless this is nullified, the effects are said to stay. In such cases, no medication is believed to help the patient, therefore other 'remedies' have developed.

This is how our Bhabhi Ji the Grandma Karam Devi used to 'Nazar Utaro' every now and then on every major and minor occasion. The above picture was snapped by Jija Ji Tarlok Singh when he brought Bhagwant to her maternal home first time after the wedding. Bhabhi Ji is seen here waving clockwise 'Harmal Seeds' over the head of Bhagwant to remove any effect knowingly or unknowingly of Evil Eye. 

It is generally believed that of these dried Harmal Seeds are placed in a hand and the hand is waved clockwise in circles over the head. She will do this ritual on every minor to major happenings. Grandma was raised in Shikarpur Sindh, this tradition has perhaps infiltrated among Hindus and Sikhs. Our Grandma continued this and taught her two sons too. Lately I had seen my Dad to follow this ritual. 

After waving, the Harmal seeds are thrown on red hot charcoal, where they explode with little popping noises, releasing a fragrant smoke that is wafted around the head of those afflicted by or exposed to the gaze of strangers. As this is done, a prayer is usually recited by Grandma repetitively while waving around the head minimum 3-4 times. The following is the usual prayer:

"Akhi Ghatta, Munh vich Datta,

Bit Bit Takke, Bol Na Sakke"

 This tradition is followed by Jews, Christians and Muslims of the Near East, and is thought to have originated amongst the ancient Semitic peoples of the region. This tradition has reached as far as the Indian region of Kashmir.

This is the Anand Karaj picture of Bhagwant and Jija Ji Tarlok Singh after the "Lavan Phere". My mom Savitri Devi is seen doing another farm of  'NazarUtaro' by waving money over the heads of the wedded couple. My Chachi Ji Prem Kaur is seen waiting for her turn. This money is later given to poor people of the community. If 'Harmal seeds' are not available we normally substitute the same with red dried whole chillies and throw them on the burning Charcoal. If the smoke from the burning chillies is strong and irritating, it is believed that the evil eye was bent upon to harm you and is now effectively countered.

When I was a small boy, while ascending a stairs in our old house in Panipat, I happened to come across a black snake about 10-12 inches long crossing my way on the landing in the centre. I just  reverted back and told my family about the snake. Each one of my elders got scared really as if I have already been bitten by a venomous snake. Here started a series of prayers and waving of Harmal seeds and Red Chillies over my head. Being a 7-8 years of age, I really found it funny why the whole family was so much worried, perhaps it was the scare of loosing their only son, I presume. My grandma Bhabh Ji had no fear of snakes and would not try to kill them either as is the case with most of us. She would let them go as if it were a cat or a dog. She felt that they are just one of the species on this Plannet and have a right to live along with other creatures. In my village Badbar, there were scores of snakes and hence it was common to follow ritual to rid them off.

A person is said to possess the evil eye if whatever he or she looks upon is harmed. A person with an evil eye need not necessarily be wicked; usually the effect of the evil eye is unintentional. Such people do not have any distinguishing physical feature to set them apart from the rest. However, one or two 'incriminating' incidents from everyday life may doom a person to the detested category of those with the 'eye'. All those believed to be witches, wizards, and beggars are so castigated. If these people look upon any desirable object, it is believed to get ruined. If a person falls under an evil spell, there are many ways through which it can be broken. Another version says that waving a whole chilli over the person and throwing it in fire is another way. If the smoke smells of the chilli, the illness is not attributed to the evil eye or nazar. However, if the smoke does not smell of chillies, it is believed that the person was afflicted by the evil eye, whose spell has now been countered.

Today we are trying to imitate the rituals on the occasion of bringing newly born Geet home. I donot believe in all these rituals and believe in Gurbani being a practicing Sikh, but following the steps laid down by my elders give me a lot of satisfaction and perhaps pleasure to give a kick to a new life.

We are sure our grandma Bhabhi Ji is constantly watching us from the heaven and would be continuing to wave Harmal and Chillies/Salt over the heads of each one of us and particularly over the newly born beautiful angel Geet to rid us off the so called bad effects of Evil-Eye.