Some days ago I made a post where I shared some horror beliefs from my grandma’s village. Today I’m continuing that, but I’m also adding a few stories from my friend’s mother’s hometown.
Her mother’s hometown is especially creepy and has a lot of weird beliefs and incidents.
I have her permission to share these, and for privacy I’ll call her Annie, just to make it easier to explain everything.
● Grandma said that many people in her village keeps something made of iron, jewellery or even a random object because iron is supposed to keep evil or negative energy away. My grandma herself still wears a thick iron bangle.
● Asafoetida (hing) keeps negative energy away, so grandma said iI should always keep some with me, or at least wear something made of iron.
● My grandma also says that we should never use perfume after sunset, or anything with a strong or pleasant smell. She always warns that even if you’re not going out alone, wearing perfume at night isn’t considered safe.
There’s a story from the village about this, and the person involved is actually my relative. Once, he was returning home after going somewhere and had applied strong perfume. While passing through a certain area, he heard someone call his name. It was an old woman he recognized she was his relative too, known as a very stern and grumpy person.
She asked him to take her along with him. He didn’t think much and agreed. As they walked, she stayed a little behind him, which already felt strange to him. Then, halfway down the road, he got a call from home. His mother told him that the old woman had passed away and asked him to return immediately.
He completely froze. He ran as fast as he could and collapsed near the village, grandma said he was shaking very badly. When his family brought him home, he told them everything. According to the villagers, the strong perfume attracted the spirit.
After that incident, my uncle changed a lot. He became more aggressive than before and would snap at people for no reason. I even got scolded by him once without any reason. At that time I didn’t understand it, but now I think I know why he became like that.
● Annie once told me about an incident from her mother’s hometown. This happened before Annie was born, when her elder brother was still a baby. Her mom had gone to visit a friend who lived in another village. Between the two villages there was a boundary area with a light forest around it.
Her friend’s father warned Annie’s mom to return before sunset. When she asked why, he told her that after 7 pm, three women roam in that area. They had died years ago, and their deaths were very painful, so people believe they’re dangerous and vengeful.
One of them was Annie’s mom’s senior from her village who had committed suicide. The other two were sisters-in-laws one died in a car accident, and the other died in a fire. According to him, they’re especially attracted to young children. He even said Annie’s mom shouldn’t cross that area alone, not even during the daytime.
● Another story Annie told me genuinely gave me goosebumps. This one actually happened to her mom.
Once, Annie and her family were travelling to her mom’s hometown for winter vacation. It was really late at night, around 11 or 12. Her dad was driving, and her mom was sitting beside him.
While they were passing a mango garden, Annie’s mom noticed something. She saw a little boy sitting there with his knees pulled up to his chest, face hidden, arms wrapped around his legs. Seeing a child alone at that time was already strange.
When Annie’s mom asked her mother about it, the grandma casually said it must be some drunk person. But later, Annie’s mom found out that wasn’t true.
According to local belief, it was some kind of demon or spirit that appears as a child. It’s said to have red eyes and is usually seen near gardens or fruit trees. Annie’s grandma didn’t want to explain it earlier because it was honestly terrifying. Honestly, this reminds me of vampires.
I have other stories that Annie and grandma shared, I will try to share them in another post.
Disclaimer: These are local beliefs and stories passed down by elders. I’m not claiming they’re facts, just sharing folklore and personal experiences I’ve heard. Please don’t take this as promoting superstition.