User:Sail83

A Fact in Legends

One may not really know about the interesting stories of the fairies. Since primitive times a number of superstitions have remained the part of human tales as they delivered to their children and grand children. The old people used to deliver the interesting stories about these supernatural beings i.e. phantom and fairies. In modern era neither there is time for people to tell such stories, nor there time for listener to concern about. Maximum time for such tales has been replaced by contemporary rational academic activities. Chitral is far-flung mountainous district of Pakistan which is famous for supernatural beings like fairies. Even today contemporary world people are making them serve in time of troubles if the solutions for their troubles are beyond their capacity. Whether you have lost your keys, affected by bad magic, facing family issue or something has happened which is beyond your strength, you can go to the woman who usually invites fairies and tell your problems. The fairies will tell you about some secret matters which are more related to you, or such matters may prove to be hazardous in future. I personally observed many time while sitting in front of the woman who invites the fairies. The word fairy has been used as plural in Chitrali Language “ Nangini” which means fairy but more than one. The woman who invites fairies is called “Pari khan” it means, one in whom the fairies dwell. You cannot see the fairies however you will surprise to see that when the fairies will come; the voice of Pari Khan will change. She will remain unconscious but will speak more wisely. Credit goes to the fairies not the woman. Her role is just a medium and physical necessity for physical enquirer. The people who are not aware about such kind of things will hardly believe that, the fairies enter in a female body and speak to the people. The fairies are not invited by every, or by majority of women in the valleys but only the lucky woman can get this opportunity. It is a game of good fortune which rarely knocks at the door of most lucky one. The fairies chose those environments which are clean and that the woman dwells in such a house which is situated in open environment. The fairies attract a woman mostly in young age and remained till death. They serve people in various difficulties. The poor people go to them and resolve their issues. For them the fairies are better than a good medical doctor because the doctor receive heavy fee that the poor people cannot pay. How can you pay to fairies is very interesting. You may or may not pay, it depends upon you. If you pay, you have to pay to women not to the fairies. You can do that only as a gift, not fee, in form of little money, some sweets and things like that. You can ask your questions in some sentences. You may not be allowed to make a lengthy comment. The fairies not only answer your questions but they will give you some self-manufactured medicine as well. Then they will advise you how to use the medicine. These aromatic medicines are mostly used by the patients with milk and pure water. Another interesting thing is that it is not necessary for the patients to be present before the fairies except in some exceptional cases. That’s why people who are suppressed, miserable and the victim of poverty make an easy journey to them. Another amazing thing is that somewhere the fairies write and prepare amulet for the people even though the woman is not educated at all. Their writing will not be understood. It reflects the beliefs of people in exorcisms. Somewhere you will find false and factitious Pari khan as well. This personification on the part of the false Pari khan is an economic jealousy where the renowned Pari khan earns more than a good doctor. People mostly women believe in such kinds of superstitions. The majority of women in every society are psychologically sick and human psychology is subservient to human satisfaction and desires. The story is fact with its social and socio-economic impacts. It is a long cultural phenomenon which has been experienced over the centuries. In this long experience mostly the lay people have enjoyed as the beneficiary of such Pari Khans. For poor people it is economical and make easy journey to her. As for as people beliefs in terms of supernatural being is concerned It is centuries past experience with beliefs and sacrifices in the name of such supernatural beings. In our age, which is the era of rationalism where people not only intellectually engage with their worldly matters but faith as well. In their intellectual engagements how they observe these conceptions? Should people reject it? If they do, have they other options to solve the problems of people? Have they any parallel way to pull the people out of such fake conceptions? What are their intellectual contributions to the community if they are intellectually engage with everything. There are so many queries which people have in this regard. However, these are socially transmitted realities from generation to generation with some modification with the changing circumstances. When we observe people’s existence engaging with these realities, we can hardly think abrupt changes, because change cannot be brought overnight. We are reluctant to change our dress which we inherit in our culture, so how can it be possible for common folk to change their centuries’ old dress of conceptions. The writer is Pakistan based advocate/ legal practitioner.