acheri

The disease-bringing ghost of a little girl in Indian folk tradition. It dwells on mountain tops and descends at night to bring sickness to children. Parents will tie a scarlet thread around the necks of their children to protect them from such molestations. It is believed that when children are ill, the acheri has cast her shadow upon them.

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References

Sources

  • Cooper, J.C., ed. (1997). Brewer's Book of Myth and Legend. Oxford: Helicon Publishing Ltd.
  • Leach, Maria, ed. (1984). Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend. New York: HarperCollins.