Nazar battu
A Nazar battu is an icon, charm bracelet, tattoo or other object or pattern used in North India and Pakistan to ward-off the evil eye. In Persian and Afghan folklore, it is called a cheshm nazar or nazar qurbāni. In India and Pakistan, the Hindi-Urdu slogan of Persian origin Chashm-e-Baddoor is used to ward off the evil eye.
Forms
A nazar battu is often an intentional blemish or flaw that is introduced to prevent perfection. For instance, a black mark might be made on the face or neck of a loved one. In houses, a deliberate flaw might be included in the otherwise-perfect physical appearance of the house. In expensive items such as carpets or saris, a deliberate coloring or stitching flaw is sometimes created. Amulets – some resembling the Turkish nazar boncuğu and others which are threads, sometimes with a taveez attached – are common in the region. Some nazar battu amulets are region specific, for instance silver-mounted leopard nails which are used in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh state.Although it doesn't involve a specific nazar battu, it is customary in the region for mothers to lightly spit at their children to imply a sense of disparagement and imperfection that protects them from nazar. Children are also marked with a black spot on the cheek. Excessive admiration, even from well-meaning people, is believed attract the evil eye, so this is believed to protect children from nazar that could be caused by their own mothers' "excessive" love of them.