Katteri scare keeps villagers indoors

VELLORE: Residents of Santhai Kodiyur village, a kilometre from Jolarpet, have been petrified after rumours that their village was haunted by an evil spirit (ratha katteri), spread like wildfire a few days ago. In fear, many of the villagers have written ‘Indru Poi Nallai Va’ on the walls and doors of their houses, to ward off the spirit and prevent it from entering their houses. The villagers have been scared to such an extent that they no longer step out of their houses before sun rise and after 8 pm. The womenfolk perform special poojas at the  temple to protect the male members in their family as they are afraid that the spirit will attack the young men and drink their blood. It all started when 60-year-old Parvathi of Santha Kodiyur saw the silhouette of a creepy creature at midnight through the windows of her house. “I awoke after hearing a strange noise around midnight a week ago. I saw a dark figure which also banged on the doors. My neighours also heard the noise,” said the elderly woman.After news about this episode spread, the villagers wrote ‘Indru Poi Nalai Va’ on the windows, front doors, walls and stairs of their houses to ward off the spirit. “We wrote the verses to fool the spirit and save our men folk,” said Radhika, Parvathi’s neighbour.While women performed special poojas, menfolk gathered in groups at the temple and burst crackers periodically to chase away the spirit. “The rumour of ratha katteri has been doing the rounds at Santhai Kodiyur village for the last one week or so. The villagers believe that bursting crackers will scare the ratha katteri and keep their village safe,” said a police officer attached to Jolarpet Police Station. He added that the rumour also did the rounds in Atchamangalam and Adiyamangalam villages before spreading to Santha Kodiyur.