Munjya, Naale Ba And Vetal: The Indian Folklore Creatures That Could Give Halloween A Desi Twist

We have heard tales of vampires, witches, and werewolves from the West, but India has no less stories and folklore that can give a desi twist to Halloween. From reading about these scary tales in our childhood to seeing them as grand spectacle on the big screens, here are a few Indian folklore that are perfect for giving an Indian twist to Halloween.

Indian Folklore Creatures That Could Give Halloween A Desi Twist

From the cunning Munjya to the witchy tale of Naale Ba, check scary Indian folklore perfect for Halloween night.  

1. Munjya

What we saw in the film 'Munjya' is inspired by real folklore that has been told since centuries. Coming from Konkan folklore, Munjya, or the restless peepal spirit, is a mischievous ghost of a young Brahmin boy who died shortly after his sacred thread ceremony. The spirit ties itself to the peepal trees and remain on Earth due to its unfulfilled desires that were cut short by dying untimely.  

2. Vetal

From the Champak and Amar Chitra Katha to animation, the story of Vikram and Vetal has been a pivotal part of childhood tales for many. A vetal can be India's answer to a zombie as it inhabits corpses and hangs upside down in cremation grounds. They usually torment their captives by giving them complex riddles and trapping them between life and death.

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3. Tekhumiavi

Forget werewolves; India has were-tigers, aka Tekhumiavi. The story of Tekhumiavi comes from the Angami Naga tribe, in which a human soul inhabits the body of a tiger. But this is different from shapeshifters as the human remains conscious.

4. Naale Ba

What you saw in Stree has been inspired by the urban legend in Karnataka called 'Naale Ba', which mean come tomorrow. It is believed that a female spirit dressed as a bride and died tragically roams in the neighbourhood. She knocked on house doors and called out to residents by their familiar names or imitated the voices of their loved ones, making those who opened doors vanish or die.  

5. Penchapenchi

Penchapenchi comes from the Bengali folklore and is a Blood-Drinking Owl. It targets isolated travelers, patiently stalking them through the canopy until it can descend to drain their blood.

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We look at other cultures and their spooky tales and urban legends. But India has always been a lad of interesting stories. 

(Image Credits: Pinterest)
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