Halmasti or the Celestial Hound is a large horse-sized evil hound in Chitrali mythology of northern Pakistan. It is connected to the heavens, showing by its name, halmasti, which means 'thunder' in Khowar. The Halmasti is said to be a large wolf with dark red fur, long limbs and a large mouth. Some stories say it can even breathe out fire.[1][2]
According to Chitrali stories, Halmasti only appears in places where either a baby is born or someone has died. People believe that these places shouldn't be left empty for seven days and nights; during this time, Quranic recitations should encircle the dead, while newborns should be sung lullabies.[2]
People were very careful around babies because they thought Halmasti might hurt them. That's why they wouldn't leave babies alone, and if they really had to, they would put something made of iron, often a knife or a blade, under the baby's pillow. It was believed that the Halmasti hated and avoided the metal and that iron was its weakness.[3]
- ↑ Nizam, Muhammad Huzaifa. "Chitrali Mythology". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Herne, Robin (2024-02-23). The Magic of Wolves. John Hunt Publishing. ISBN 978-1-80341-107-1.
- ↑ Jettmar, Karl; Edelberg, Lennart (1974). Cultures of the Hindukush: Selected Papers from the Hindu-Kush Cultural Conference Held at Moesgård 1970. F. Steiner Verlag. ISBN 978-3-515-01217-1.