nazar
नज़र nazarThe 'evil eye', the harm believed to come from another's envious or ill-wishing gaze. A black dot placed on unmarried girls and small children, and other marks and amulets, are used to ward it off.
Where this term appears
- What the bindi actually means Journal
A black dot, rather than red, was traditionally placed on unmarried girls and on small children, in the latter case to ward off nazar , the evil eye.
- Why is a coconut broken in Hindu ceremonies? Journal
To take away the drishti or the nazar , the evil eye, a whole coconut is circled around a person, a child, a new vehicle, several times, and then carried away and smashed on the ground far from anyone.