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.

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.