Even today in the rural areas of Bihar, there are many such folk tales which are chilling. A non-human creature known locally as ‘Pandubba’ roams the banks of rivers and lakes at night. This is not just a story but a living terror of the lives of fishermen there. It is believed that Panduba is an inhuman force that resides in water. The scariest thing about it is, it can take the form of anyone and call you in the voice of the person closest to you. When a man is by the pool in the stillness of the night, he hears the call of his mother, father or friend. Once the man looks back, Panduba hypnotizes him and drags him into deep water.
The hero of the story is Raghu, who is a son of a poor fisherman family. Raghu’s father was a great swimmer and an experienced fisherman, but one day his body was found floating in the lake. Everyone thought that he drowned, but there was something else behind this death. The entire responsibility of the house now fell on Raghu. Due to the situation, Raghu decided to give up his education and take up his father’s business. A day’s work did not yield enough fish, so Raghu took a bold decision, to go to the lake at night to catch fish. His uncle had repeatedly warned him, “Raghu, this lake is not yours at night. Panduba reigns there. No matter how much noise you hear, don’t look back.” But Raghu ignored this in his youthful enthusiasm.
One night Raghu reached the middle of the lake with his name. There was thick darkness and grave silence all around. Suddenly, he heard a clear voice from behind “Raghu… Oh Raghu, look here!” That voice belonged to his dead father. A thorn stood on Raghu’s body. He longed to see his father, but remembered his uncle’s words. He restrained himself. But soon he realized that his name was not moving forward. Someone was holding her tightly from below. He looked down into the water in fear and his eyes widened. Beneath the water was a terrifying human figure, whose eyes glowed like blue light. Those eyes were hypnotizing Raghu. Raghu lost his temper and was unconsciously drawn towards those eyes.
Raghu regained his composure and returned home. He was very scared. Seeing his condition, his mother took him close and told him a shocking truth. Raghu’s father also came home one night in a similar panic. He was also called by Panduba and within a few days, he took his own life by jumping into the lake. Panduba, once he follows someone, does not leave him until he leads him to death’s door. That night, Raghu started hearing the same voices again. He woke up in a trance and started walking towards the lake. The mother tried to stop him, but Raghu’s body seemed to have another power. Raghu reached the edge of the lake and was about to step into the water, when his mother came running there.
Raghu’s mother looked at the waves of the lake and shouted, “If you want to sacrifice my son, take me first! There is no greater power in this world than a mother’s love!” She prayed to God and prepared to give her life. Panduba’s strength was weakened by seeing that mother’s call and her selfless love. The churning waves in the lake suddenly calmed down and Raghu regained his senses. Raghu had returned from the brink of death that night. From that day he never stepped into the lake at night. This story teaches us that what we think of as old stories are often cautionary tales from experience. Even today in many parts of Bihar, the stories of Panduba at night by the lake and its silence strike a chord in one’s mind.
Note: The articles we are providing are based on the experiences of some individuals. But if we do not spread any superstition (This article is for information and entertainment only and Navarashtra.com does not endorse it)
