Have you ever shared the best news of your life with someone and fallen sick the very next day? Have you had your mood ruined the second you thought life is going well? That’s when you know nazar is real, and even your mum agrees. According to Vastu Shastra, nazar is a negative energy that affects your health and mind. But do you know how to get rid of nazar and protect yourself from these negative energies?

We asked Mumbai-based Vastu consultant Isha Sinhal about nazar and how to protect ourselves from it.

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How do you unintentionally attract nazar?

Whenever we fall sick or things go south, we often blame jealous friends and relatives. But sometimes, your well-wishers or even you can be the reason for this misfortune. If you’re receiving excessive admiration for your work, or if you often boast about your achievements and good health, you can unintentionally catch the evil eye. Not only this, certain décor pieces and other items can also attract nazar. Isha Sinhal suggests avoiding these items to protect yourself from the evil eye.

• Shimmery or overly fancy décor: Chandeliers, glitzy showpieces, or anything too fancy can attract unwanted attention.
• Broken or unfinished items: Broken idols, chipped glass, or unfinished artwork hold stagnant energy, attracting negativity.
• Water at the wrong place: Placing aquariums or fountains at the South or West entrances often intensifies nazar rather than absorbing it.

Is nimbu mirchi the best hack to get rid of nazar?

Growing up in Indian households, we’ve often seen people hanging a lemon attached to green chillies at the entrance of their home. People believe that this nimbu mirchi combination absorbs negativity. But is this hack really reliable or just a myth?

Isha Sinhal considers it a foolproof hack for nazar. “Atharva Veda suggests using herbs and amulets to absorb and neutralise the drishti (hostile gaze),” Isha says. Not only this, in Indian mythology, misfortune is personified as Alakshmi, the elder sister of Goddess Lakshmi, who loves sour and pungent food. So, if you hang a lemon (sour) and chillies (pungent) at your main entrance, you are feeding Alakshmi, so Goddess Lakshmi can easily enter your home, bringing prosperity.

Lemon peel also releases antimicrobial oils and chilli emits capsaicin. “Both of these substances repel pests and purify the air. So, the lemon-chilli ritual doubles as bio-protection, keeping dirt that brings negativity away from your home,” Isha explains. But are there any other ways to ward off nazar besides nimbu mirchi?

Vastu remedies for nazar

Isha Sinhal suggests a variety of Vastu remedies to counter the evil eye and attract positivity and good health in your life. Follow these simple rituals to remove the evil gaze.

• Salt water bowl: Isha suggests keeping a bowl of water containing rock salt near your main entrance or living room. Salt is the oldest absorber of negativity. You must change the water every Saturday for it to work effectively.
• Camphor clove evening ritual: Burn camphor with two cloves in a diya or a bowl every evening at dusk. The Atharva Veda prescribes fumigation as a purifier, and according to Ayurveda, camphor smoke disperses stagnant energy.
• Swastika or Om symbol at the main entrance: “Along with nimbu mirchi, place a copper or brass Swastika or Om symbol above the main door. It seals auspicious vibrations and blocks envy,” Isha recommends.
• Alum Protection (Fitkari remedy): Alum is one of the most powerful traditional remedies for nazar, according to Isha. “Take a small piece of alum, rotate it thrice clockwise around the person or through the main entrance, and then burn or dissolve it in water,” Isha suggests. If the alum crackles or dissolves in the water, it’s a sign that it has removed the negative energy of the evil eye.
• Coconut camphor ritual: Take a coconut, rotate it around family members three times, chant a mantra (such as the Gayatri Mantra or Hanuman Chalisa), and break the coconut outside your home. “You can burn the camphor alongside to dissolve subtle doshas,” Isha recommends.

If you want to connect with Vastu consultant Isha Sinhal for more personalised Vastu-related advice, you can find her here.

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