Vampires and werewolves are well and good. But we’d like to re-introduce the desi supernatural characters. Please to meet
Bhoot (Ghost)
Appearance:In white clothes, lurking on treesSkills: Can morph into animals and humans. Casts no shadow, speaks with a nasal twang
Back story: They are fragments of people who had violent deaths, have unfinished matter or “improper” funerals
Will it kill you: Aim to frighten more than kill
Antidote: Iron, holy water, burnt turmericChudail (Witch)
Appearance: Twisted feet, claw-like hands, potbelly, unkempt hair
Skills: Transforms into sirens and drinks men’s blood/semen
Back story: Women who die in childbirth or of ritual impurity
Will it kill you: May not kill you, but will suck your virility and leave you aged
Antidote: Sprinkle millet seeds before her, make her count them
Pishacha (Flesh-eating demon)
Appearance: Dark, with bulging veins and big red eyes
Skills: Invisibility, can possess people and alter their thoughts
Back story: Were created by Brahma
Will it kill you: 100 per cent. Have a fondness for human ‘nahri’
Antidote: A special puja at certain festivals
Pret (Starving ghosts)
Appearance: Human-like, with sunken skin, thin neck and limbs, big belly
Skills: Magic
Back story: A result of bad karma in previous life
Will it kill you: Can manipulate us temporarily Antidote: Buddhist traditions pity them and monks pray for their release
Baitaal (Sort of vampire)
Appearance: Like a monstrous bat or emaciated corpse
Skills: Possesses dead bodies
Back story: Hostile spirits stuck between life and afterlife
Will it kill you: 90 per cent. Can cause insanity or kill kids
Antidote: Stay away from haunted rural countryside at night
Pret (Starving ghosts)
Appearance: Human-like, with sunken skin, thin neck and limbs, big belly
Skills: Magic
Back story: A result of bad karma in previous life
Will it kill you: Can manipulate us temporarily Antidote: Buddhist traditions pity them and monks pray for their releaseBaitaal (Sort of vampire)
Appearance: Like a monstrous bat or emaciated corpse
Skills: Possesses dead bodies
Back story: Hostile spirits stuck between life and afterlife
Will it kill you: 90 per cent. Can cause insanity or kill kids
Antidote: Stay away from haunted rural countryside at night
From HT Brunch, October 26
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