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[[Image:Imaginary painting of Himalayan foothills of 1860.jpg|right|thumb|An imaginary portrait of mountainous region that bears close similarity to Himalayan foothills of the 1860s.]] | [[Image:Imaginary painting of Himalayan foothills of 1860.jpg|right|thumb|An imaginary portrait of mountainous region that bears close similarity to Himalayan foothills of the 1860s.]] | ||
'''Pichal | '''Pichal peri''' or '''pichhal pairī''' ({{lang-hi|पिछल पेरी}}, {{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|پچھل پيری}}}} "reverse-footed"), also called '''[[churel|churel/chuṛail/chudail]]''' ({{lang-hi|चुड़ैल}}, {{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|چڑیل}}}}) is a [[monster]] or [[supernatural]] creature popularly appearing in [[Ghost story|ghost stories]] of [[South Asia|South]] and [[Central Asia]]. Pichal peris usually appear female with long hair covering the face and feet pointing backward.<ref name="Mysteriesrunsolved"/> | ||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
Pichal peris are said to roam the mountains of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Rediff>{{cite web |title=Pichal Peri |url=http://pages.rediff.com/pichal-peri/393200 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |date=2020}}</ref> They are said to be found in the Himalayas, though it occasionally enters some Indian villages.<ref name=Rediff/> In [[Pakistan]], sightings are usually reported in the rural mountainous regions of the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] province, however sightings in the [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] province are also occasionally reported. People who claim these reports are usually elders of rural villages who are known to hold superstitious beliefs, it is possible that people in [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] have taken inspiration from their northern neighbours and made their own versions of the legend. The characteristics of the pichal peri vary depending on region.<ref name="Mysteriesrunsolved"/> | |||
In some versions, | In some versions, pichal peris appear in the woods at night and target lone men. Most stories will have the victim escaping as these are usually told by people who claim to be first hand witnesses. It is believed that pichal peris have two forms. In most stories they appear as beautiful women in order to lure men and get exposed only due to their backward feet. In some cases witnesses claim to see the female form transforming into a tall demonic creature.<ref name="Mysteriesrunsolved">{{cite web |last1=Dark |first1=Lucy |title=The Legend Of Pichal Peri Is Not For The Faint Heart! |url=https://mysteriesrunsolved.com/2018/09/the-legend-of-pichal-peri-is-not-for-the-faint-heart.html |website=Mysteriesrunsolved |access-date=1 August 2020 |date=14 June 2020}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*''[[Roohi (2021 film)|Roohi]]'', Indian film incorporating the legend | |||
* [[Churel]] | * [[Churel]] | ||
* [[Indian folklore]] | * [[Indian folklore]] | ||