NO MORE BAD LUCK! Traders from Vijayawada selling `Dishti Kaya' made of coconut and shells in Visakhapatnam. — Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam.

VISAKHAPATNAM : A couple of years ago the survivor of a horrific China Airline crash in Nagoya made the world stand up, especially, the people from the western hemisphere. He announced he was saved thanks to the nine-eyed ZI amulet that was strapped to his right hand. He reopened the concept of the `evil eye' and `gadgets' that can be used to ward them off.

The concept of the evil eye is old. It was much in vogue in almost all ancient civilisations like India, Mesopotamia, China and Egypt. The Egyptians placed different types of beads in the mummies to ward off evil eyes.

`Armour and prosperity'

Well, here is something from the modern world. A group of persons come every week from Vijayawada to sell a material they call `Drishti kaya' to traders and retailers here and claiming it to acts as an armour against the evil eye and brings prosperity to the businessmen.

At a glance it looks like a well-crafted handicraft. A closer look will reveal it is made up of a dried-up coconut shell, intricately bound by a yellow coloured thread, which is attached to a seashell in the end.

Good results

Ramana who comes every Monday says if one hangs the `Drishti kaya' in front of a door, the evil eye will not be able to penetrate the settings.

"Each piece takes over 30 minutes to be completed and it is done while chanting of a mantra. While the bigger one costs Rs.40; the smaller is available for Rs.20, and no bargaining please!" he says.

He also informs it has to be changed periodically and his sales are slowly picking up as people are experiencing good results.

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