Koraput, Nov 4: From lucky charms to Friday the 13th, superstitions still hold power in our modern world—reminding us how deeply old beliefs can linger. A shocking instance of superstition has been reported from Gadabaduda village under Narayanpatna block of Odisha's Koraput district.

Local villagers have barred outsiders from entering their village for a period of eight days following the unnatural deaths of eight people in the locality this year.

Sources said that the tribal residents of the village believe that their village goddess is angry over them and her anger is causing these deaths. Over this superstitious belief, they decided to impose strict restrictions to appease her.

Locals claimed that the village goddess was displeased and left the village which brought sorrow and misfortune to its residents. Traditional rituals were recently performed to appease her and seek forgiveness, inviting her back to the village. Every household in the village contributed money for the rituals, which also included a community feast.

After the rituals were completed, the villagers believed that their goddess had been appeased and had returned to the village.

However, there is an atmosphere of fear, owing to which the villagers have imposed a restriction on entry of outsiders as well as barring the villagers from going outside. They fear that any violation of this rule might anger the goddess again and bring more deaths.

To enforce the ban, locals have installed bamboo barricades at the village entrances and affixed posters warning outsiders not to enter.