You've figured it out right. Its to ward of evil eyes. The logic of tying and an old pair of footwear is that....since its footwear and dirty - nobody would want to cast a evil eye on something that dirty. Evil eye is cast on something that is pure, clean and beautiful. A lot of people do it to their brand new cars too. You might have seen people tying a lemon with a few chillies. A lot of mothers in India apply a black spot on the foreheads of their new born babies for the same reason.
Thanks for the comment on my blog http://fernweh-travels.blogspot.com/. However,I think you meant to write to Mihir not me. Mihir follows my blog and left the comment about the Evil Eye on yours.
the hindi says, evil eye person eat a shoe. i agree with mihir, and was told to put a black string around our newborn's wrist. considering i have not done it and now it has been worrying me.
[Image]Considering that it is in vogue for people to throw shoes at politicians in India right now, I thought it might be a good segue for this blog topic. Ahem, speaking of shoes, drivers in India put a depiction (see second picture, and in the first picture, the real thing) of one on their trucks (cars, rickshaws, etc) for some reason but I have yet to figure out why, much less it's origin. Now, if I have this right, and I am pretty sure I do, truck drivers put a picture of the face of the guy with the tongue sticking out to ward off the evil eye. Kind of like the Italian horn that people used to wear around their neck when I was a kid. As a matter of fact, any input from from you out there in internet land would be very helpful. What do you say?
By the way, did you know that the Italian horn that people wear to wear to ward off the evil eye (Malocchio) is not a horn but a pepper (the vegetable)? [Image]
One more thing. We are going to Phuket, Thailand tonight for a few days. Any suggestions as to what we should do while we are there. I know, this is kind of a needy blog posting. So sue me. [Image]
"Indian Evil Eye"
5 Comments -
Evil Eye = "Buri Nazar"(In Hindi)
Buri = Bad/Evil
Nazar = Sight
You've figured it out right. Its to ward of evil eyes. The logic of tying and an old pair of footwear is that....since its footwear and dirty
- nobody would want to cast a evil eye on something that dirty. Evil eye is cast on something that is pure, clean and beautiful. A lot of people do it to their brand new cars too. You might have seen people tying a lemon with a few chillies. A lot of mothers in India apply a black spot on the foreheads of their new born babies for the same reason.
- Mihir
April 22, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Hey Joe!
Thanks for the comment on my blog http://fernweh-travels.blogspot.com/. However,I think you meant to write to Mihir not me. Mihir follows my blog and left the comment about the Evil Eye on yours.
Take care
Cecilia
April 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM
the hindi says, evil eye person eat a shoe. i agree with mihir, and was told to put a black string around our newborn's wrist.
considering i have not done it and now it has been worrying me.
May 28, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Thanks Dreaming Gardener, we have seen them all over India and we kind of love them.
J & K
May 30, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Good images. Thank you and best wishes.
December 1, 2012 at 1:49 PM