As night fell, I wandered down Finivaamagu Road. Abruptly, I saw a woman walking along the road wearing traditional Maldivian attire, a libaas. I was trailing behind her. She wore a red outfit. Rekibea told me about meeting a woman in our ward of Dhadimago while walking down the Finivaamago Road. “Her hair was decorated with flowers, and the smell of the flowers filled the air.”Â
He said, moving a bit more quickly, and she did the same. “I made a run. And then she started running. I hurried quickly and got close to her. She didn’t look down or up. “I was about to stop and grab her.”
Rekibea could not hold her, even though she was at arm’s length from her. Then she vanished from sight. “I looked down the street. I was unable to locate her. “Then I knew that it was a handi.”
People in the Maldives frequently view Handi as a female and believe her to be a hostile spirit. Since the beginning of time, people have held superstitious beliefs. Superstitions involving ghosts, devils, and other “supernatural” entities are common among Maldivians.
According to Maldivians, malevolent spirits can take many different shapes. Handi is a spirit that looks like a lovely, long-haired woman who usually wears red. Some say that if it gets agitated, it might move quickly and hurt people. The afternoon or evening is when it happens most often.
People instantly think of handi when they see the color red. But according to some, it comes in a variety of colors. Affected individuals may experience mental instability. Some people think Handi likes fragrances and flowers.
According to a belief, Handi reside next to the poison bulb plant, known as Kendhulhu in our dialect. Additionally, this plant has a beautiful flower. We were cautioned to stay away from this plant and its flower, particularly at night. The handi takes over the human when someone picks a flower. The presence of handi makes those who pick the flower ill. Many people shunned this plant when we were kids.
