Buri Nazar - Evil Eye Symptoms, Causes and How to Remove It

By Dr. Kavita Tiwari, Founder of Divine Sansar  |  Last updated: May 2026

AT A GLANCEBuri nazar (the evil eye) is the transfer of negative energy through envy, ill will or intense focused attention. In Hindu tradition it is treated as energetic, not superstitious. The most effective home remedies are the nimbu mirchi totka at your entrance, rai and salt utarna around the affected person, kala tikka on children, alum (fitkari) burning and daily Hanuman Chalisa recitation. For homes, hang a nazar battu, burn dhoop weekly and place a black tourmaline near the main door. If symptoms are physical and persistent, see a doctor first - these remedies are spiritual, not medical.

 

Things have been off lately. The baby cries through the night for no reason. The new business hits a quiet patch right after a strong launch. Headaches arrive after a family gathering and refuse to lift. Hindu families across the UAE recognise this pattern. There is a name for it - buri nazar.

This guide covers what buri nazar actually is, the symptoms that suggest it, and the seven home remedies that have been used in Indian households for generations. It is written for Hindu families living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman, where social visibility is high and energetic protection is a sensible part of household routine.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ FIRSTIf you are experiencing persistent or severe physical symptoms - sudden vomiting, ongoing headaches, vision changes, numbness, fainting, chest discomfort or anything that feels medically serious - please consult a qualified doctor before assuming the cause is energetic. The remedies in this guide are spiritual and traditional. They are not a substitute for medical care, and they are not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any illness. Use them alongside professional medical advice when symptoms have a physical cause

What Buri Nazar Actually Means

The Hindi word nazar literally means gaze or sight, and buri means bad. Buri nazar therefore translates as bad gaze or evil eye. It is recognised across Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Mediterranean, Latin American and many other cultural traditions, often under different names but with the same underlying idea - that intense human attention can carry energy, and that energy can affect the person, object or place receiving it.

In Hindu tradition, this is not framed as superstition. It is treated as a real energetic phenomenon, the same way most cultures recognise that prolonged stress affects health, or that some environments simply feel heavy. Whether you accept the spiritual framing or not, the rituals around buri nazar serve a practical purpose - they create awareness of social dynamics, mark transitions of vulnerability, and give families a structured way to protect what matters to them.

What Causes Buri Nazar

Buri nazar does not require malicious intent. It can come from genuine admiration that carries an unconscious undercurrent of envy. A neighbour who praises your new home while quietly feeling jealous. A colleague who congratulates your promotion while feeling resentful. Even a well-meaning aunt whose intense, focused attention on your newborn baby carries a concentration of emotional energy the child absorbs.

The source does not have to be a person either. Homes, businesses, vehicles, relationships and even physical health can all be affected. In some Vedic interpretations, individuals with a weak Moon, or those with Rahu and Ketu in sensitive positions in the birth chart, are considered more susceptible to absorbing negative energy from their environment.

Children, pregnant women and people going through significant life transitions - a new job, a new home, a new business - are traditionally considered most vulnerable. This is why new beginnings in Hindu tradition are almost always accompanied by protective rituals.

How to Tell if You Have Buri Nazar

These symptoms, particularly when they appear together or after a period of significant positive change in your life, may indicate buri nazar. Read the medical note above first - any of these signs that are physical and persistent need a doctor before they need a remedy.

Physical signs

• Unexplained headaches, neck pain or heaviness in the body

• Sudden nausea or digestive issues with no clear medical cause

• Heaviness in the eyes, difficulty focusing

• Unusual fatigue or feeling drained despite adequate rest

• Babies crying excessively and inconsolably

Emotional and mental signs

• Restlessness or anxiety that appears suddenly without trigger

• Difficulty concentrating or making routine decisions

• Frequent quarrels within the family for no clear reason

• A general feeling that things are going wrong despite effort

External signs

• Milk souring quickly or food spoiling faster than usual

• Repeated minor accidents or things breaking in the home

• Continued financial drain or business setbacks after a strong run

• A heaviness in the home that visitors comment on

A single symptom on its own is not necessarily buri nazar. It is the combination - especially appearing after a significant positive event or a period of being admired or envied - that points toward it.

7 Home Remedies to Remove Buri Nazar

These are the remedies that have stood the test of generations across Indian households. None of them require a pandit, none of them are expensive, and most can be done with items already in your kitchen.

1. Nimbu Mirchi Totka

The most widely practiced buri nazar remedy across India and the Indian diaspora in UAE. String together seven green chillies and one lemon on a black thread. Hang it at the entrance of your home, office or vehicle. Replace it every Saturday, or sooner if the lemon and chillies dry out and turn black quickly - that means the nazar has been actively absorbed and needs to be cleared.

Divine Sansar TipThis is not decoration. The nimbu mirchi sits at the threshold of your space and acts as an energetic boundary at the entry point. Replace it on Saturday evenings, dispose of the old one outside your home, and never bring the dried-out totka back inside.

2. Rai and Salt Utarna

Take a small handful of mustard seeds (rai) and coarse rock salt. Hold them in your right hand. Move your hand in a circular motion around the affected person seven times, sweeping from head to toe. Then throw the rai and salt outside the home, or burn it on a hot tawa until the salt crackles. Do not keep it inside afterwards.

This is one of the most effective home remedies for removing buri nazar from a person, particularly children. Many UAE-based Hindu mothers do this for babies after large family gatherings.

3. Kala Tikka

A small black dot applied behind the ear or on the jawline of babies and young children, traditionally done to deflect the concentrated attention of others. Many Indian families in Dubai and Abu Dhabi do this routinely when taking children to weddings, gatherings or family events where the child will be the centre of attention.

For adults, a small black thread tied around the wrist or ankle serves a similar protective purpose. The black colour is believed to absorb negative energy before it reaches the wearer.

4. Alum (Fitkari) Utarna

Hold a piece of fitkari in your hand and move it around the affected person in a circular motion seven times. Then place the alum on a fire or hot tawa. As it melts and reshapes, the form it takes is traditionally read as an indication of the nature of the nazar. Dispose of the cooled alum outside the home, ideally at a crossroad or running water.

5. Red Chilli and Coconut Remedy

Take two whole dried red chillies and a small piece of coconut. Circle them seven times around the affected person or space, then burn them outside in the open air. If the chillies burn with a strong, sharp smell that does not feel pleasant, it is traditionally read as confirmation that nazar was present.

6. Hanuman Chalisa and Bajrang Baan

Regular recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa is considered one of the most powerful protections against buri nazar and negative energies. In Hindu tradition, Lord Hanuman is the ultimate protector - his energy is said to create a shield around the devotee and the home. Recite daily, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with full attention.

Bajrang Baan is a more intensive recitation used when buri nazar is severe or persistent and the standard remedies are not clearing it.

7. Gomti Chakra

Gomti Chakra is a natural disc-shaped stone found in the Gomti river. In Hindu and Vastu tradition it is used both for protection against buri nazar and for attracting positive energy into the home. The classic remedy is to wrap seven Gomti Chakras in a red cloth and place them in your locker, beneath the main entrance or in the north-east corner of the home.

How to Protect Your Home from Buri Nazar

Beyond personal remedies, your home itself needs energetic protection - especially if you have recently moved, renovated or had a visible run of success that has drawn attention from neighbours and extended family.

Nazar Battu

The classic black-faced figure with wide white eyes hung at the entrance of homes and shops across India and the UAE. Its function is to absorb and deflect the concentrated gaze of envy before it crosses the threshold. Hang it where every visitor can see it as they approach the door - that is what makes it work.

Black Iron Horseshoe

A black iron horseshoe hung above the main entrance, points facing upward to hold the energy in, is a powerful Vastu protection item. Iron is considered a grounding and shielding metal in Hindu tradition. The horseshoe should be from a working horse if possible, and never sourced second hand from an uncertain origin.

Weekly Dhoop and Camphor

Burning dhoop sticks or camphor in every room of the home on Saturday evenings is a simple and effective way to clear accumulated negative energy. The smoke purifies the environment energetically. This practice is particularly valued in Hindu families across Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman where homes are often closed up against the heat for long stretches and energy can stagnate.

Salt Water Cleanse

Place a small bowl of water with a tablespoon of coarse rock salt in the corners of your main living room. Replace weekly. Salt is highly absorbent of negative energy. Dispose of the salt water by flushing it down the toilet or pouring it into running water outside - never leave old salt water sitting in the home, as the energy it has absorbed will linger.

Crystals for Buri Nazar Protection

Certain crystals are traditionally used to support energetic protection and personal alignment. They are not a treatment for any condition. They are tools for intention setting and energy awareness, used alongside the other remedies in this guide.

Black Tourmaline

Widely regarded as the most powerful protective stone. Keeping black tourmaline near the main entrance of your home, or carrying a small piece with you when you travel, is traditionally said to support an energetic boundary against external negativity.

Obsidian

A deeply grounding stone that absorbs dense and stagnant energy from the environment. Place obsidian in the home after a salt water cleanse to consolidate the protective effect. Cleanse the stone itself monthly under running water.

Tiger's Eye

Traditionally associated with deflecting the evil eye specifically. Tiger's Eye is believed to return negative energy to its source rather than simply absorbing it - which is why it is a popular choice for people in highly visible roles.

Amethyst

Supports clarity and calm. Amethyst is used to help the wearer stay energetically centred and less susceptible to absorbing the emotional states of others. Useful for people in customer-facing or socially demanding work.

Browse the Vastu and protection collection on Divine Sansar for these and other protection items, with same-day and next-day delivery across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman.

How to Use Protection Items the Right Way

Most protection items work best when activated and used with intention. These are the rules that have been passed down across generations in Hindu households.

Wearing

• Wear protection bracelets or threads on the left wrist - the receiving side of the body in Vedic tradition.

• Tie black threads with seven knots, each tied while focusing on the protection of the wearer.

• Avoid sharing your protection bracelet or thread with anyone else once worn - the energy is personalised.

Activating

• Cleanse new crystals or items by holding them under running water for 30 seconds.

• Pass the item over a lit dhoop or camphor flame three times.

• Recite the Hanuman Chalisa or your chosen mantra while holding the item before its first use.

Caring for items

• Cleanse crystals once a month - water rinse, then a few hours of moonlight or indirect sunlight.

• Replace nimbu mirchi every Saturday.

• Replace black threads every six months, or sooner if they fray or break.

• If a protection item breaks unexpectedly, treat it as a sign that it absorbed strong negativity. Thank it, dispose of it outside the home, and replace immediately.

When Home Remedies Are Not Enough

There are situations where the home remedies in this guide are not the right tool. If you have tried the standard practices for a few weeks and the heaviness or symptoms are not lifting, or if the situation feels beyond what you should handle alone, it is time to bring in a more experienced practitioner.

• Persistent heaviness in the home that does not clear after dhoop, salt water and nazar battu.

• Recurring health issues across multiple family members with no medical explanation.

• Children who do not settle even after rai and salt utarna.

• Major life events - housewarming, wedding, a new business launch - where you want full ritual protection from the start.

For these situations, consider booking a verified pandit ji for pooja services in UAE. A trained pandit can perform a complete shanti pooja, navagraha shanti, or specific nazar utarna ritual that goes beyond what home remedies can address.

Buri Nazar in the UAE - Practical Notes for Indian Families

The Indian diaspora in the UAE lives in a highly social environment. Family gatherings, community events, school functions, professional networking, weddings - there is constant visibility. A business doing well, a child excelling in school, a new home in a desirable community, a promotion announced on LinkedIn - all of these draw attention, and with attention comes the natural risk of concentrated envy.

Many Hindu families in Dubai and Abu Dhabi maintain regular nazar protection practices simply as part of their household routine. Nimbu mirchi at the entrance, kala tikka on the children before family events, weekly dhoop on Saturday evenings, a black tourmaline near the main door. None of this is extreme. It is sensible energetic hygiene in a social environment that places a high value on visible success.

If you have recently moved into a new villa or apartment, especially in communities like Arabian Ranches, Al Reem Island or Dubai Hills where housewarming visits and admiration are constant in the first few months, consider running a full home protection setup before the visits begin. It is far easier to start protected than to clear absorbed nazar after the fact.

Add Divine to your daily protection rituals.

- Dr. Kavita Tiwari, Founder Divine Sansar  |  Divine Sansar, UAE