Charmed

Charmed Every second person seems to be sporting the evil eye bracelets. Aneesha Rupani finds out the lure and the legend surrounding the talisman.

Matiasma, malocchio, mal de ojo, buri nazar. Greek, Italian, Spanish and Hindi manifestations of the same thing: the evil eye. Legend has it that the evil eye can be cast on a person to make him sick or cause harm to the person just by looking at him with envy or jealousy. This belief was and still is very predominate in the Mediterranean nations and in some parts of South America. With the belief came amulets and charms to protect the wearer against the evil eye. One of the most popular amulets is the blue glass eye charm. However, ironically the Greeks believe that it is blue eyed-people who are considered most likely to cast the evil eye. The amulet is believed to `mirror back’ the blue of the evil eye and thus `mystify’ it. The eye bracelets are extremely popular and more so it has become a fashion statement these days to flash them in a multitude of colours.

“Off late there has been a lot of black magic being practiced. The evil eye bracelet acts as a deterrent for black magic and protects the wearer from it,” believes tarot reader Shirley Bose. However if black magic has already been practiced on the person, she must wear the evil eye for a period of one year. Once it absorbs the negativity the bracelet is supposed to break off on its own or the ‘eyes’ will crack. In either case the bracelet should not be worn again and should be thrown into the sea. “Traditionally one would draw a black eye on a white paper and the person would carry it on themselves, maybe in their wallets or keep it under their pillows to protect them. Jewellers have picked up on this and have fashioned them into bracelets,” adds Shirley. According to her, the white evil eye charm with the black iris is the best as it serves to protect the wearer against black magic. The popular blue evil eye charm is for overall protection and is said to represent Jupiter, the planet of good times and benevolence. “It symbolizes good health, wealth and general happiness.”

Celebs like Malaika Arora Khan can be seen sporting a couple of the evil eye bracelets and even has a belly chain with the eye! “I do believe that it protects the wearer but I’m not staunch about it. I like it, it looks great and it has the symbolism attached to it,” says Malaika. She does however believe in nazar and wearing the bracelet makes her feel comfortable. She confesses that one of her evil eye bracelet had, “All of a sudden smashed into smithereens,” signifying that the negativity had been absorbed!

Even restaurants are tuning into this trend and have evil eyes adorning their walls. Moshe’s Cafe, in Mumbai has four Turkish evil eyes adorning their walls, plus a jar full or evil eye beads and two large circular evil eye hangings! “When Moshe was in Turkey, he came across a lot of these evil eyes and picked up a couple for the restaurant. It instantly gives the feel of the Mediterranean and creates a good ambience,” informs his sister Rifka Shek. What about its protective qualities? “ I don’t really believe that the eye can protect you from all harm! It just looks very pretty and is very ‘in’ right now. In fact Moshe also got me a huge evil eye pendant from there, but I only wear it if it matches my clothes,” she adds.

Most jewellers today stock evil eye bracelets. One has an option on the choice of metal be it the popular silver, the more expensive gold or the uber cool platinum. At Popley, the gold evil eye brackets start at about Rs. 5,000 and increase depending on the weight of the gold. In Mumbai, Jewel Art, claims to be the biggest stockist of the evil eye charms and have them as rings, wall hangings, charms bracelets etc. According to the proprietor Avinash Poorswani, the bracelets are the most popular and on an average he sells about 15 per day! “The multi-coloured and the light blue are the most popular in the bracelets,” he adds. They stock the bracelets in silver which start at Rs. 550, with the Swarovski encrusted evil eye bracelets going up to Rs. 1,450, which are popular along with the titanium and leather variety as well as with wooden beads.

Niti Patel, the proprietor of Rouge, has the evil eye amulet everywhere - as key chains, in her car, as wall hangings, in the store, as bracelets and even as a diary! “I’m a big believer in nazar and feel that the evil eye amulets are a fun and cool way to protect yourself!” She has even gifted her husband an evil eye charm. Her store Rouge, stocks a huge variety of evil eye talismans and bracelets. “I bought my first stock from Greece when they initially came out. My entire stock sold out in about four and a half weeks,” she reveals. The bracelets are also widely available in up market fashion stores.

Evil eye bracelets are a huge trend and it protects you from harm. Need another reason to buy one? Most people suggest that its better if you are gifted the bracelet instead of buying it! So get your friends to gift you one and join the trend brigade.