Pakistan is the second-largest country in South Asia and the fifth most populated country in the world. Iran, Afghanistan, China, and India border it on three sides, and on the fourth, it has a 650-mile-long coastline along the Arabian sea. The country also shares a maritime border with Oman.

It is a site of ancient cultures, such as the Neolithic of the Stone Age, the Indus Valley Civilizations of the Bronze age, and the Gandhara Civilization of the Iron Age.

The region that is present-day Pakistan has been a part of various historic empires and dynasties, including the Achaemenid (first Persian Empire), the Seleucid (founded by Alexander the Great), the Maurya, the Kushan, the Gupta (ancient Indian Empire); the Umayyad Caliphate in its southern regions, the Hindu Shahis, the Ghaznavids, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the Durranis, the Omani Empire, the Sikh Empire, British East India Company rule, and most recently, the British Raj from 1858 to 1947.

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Gods & Goddesses

Indr - god of the sky, weather, river flows, and war. He is considered the king of gods and is derived from a prominent Hindu deity, Indra.

Mahandeo - a supreme god of universal destruction, derived from the Hindu deity Shiva or Mahadeva.

Dizauhe - goddess of death. The equivalent of the Hindu goddess Mara.

Imra - a supreme god who is believed to be the creator of the earth by the Nuristani people. The equivalent of the Hindu god Yama.

Munjem Malék - god of crops and also, war. Believed to be a negotiator with higher deities.

Jestak - goddess of domestic life, family, and marriage.

Dezalik - goddess of childbirth, hearth, and life force who protects women and children. She is similar to Nirmali.

Krumai - the goddess of the mountain Tirich Mir. She appears in the form of a wild goat, and she is associated with childbirth.

Gujo - a guardian deity.

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Mythical Creatures: Animals, Demons, & Ghosts

Buraq or Al-Buraq - is a creature with the body of a horse, the tail of a peacock, wings, and the head of a beautiful woman. Sometimes, it is described as half-mule and half-donkey with wings and the face of a woman.

Jinn - are creatures made of smokeless fire. They are believed to live in an alternate dimension but can cross over to earth. They are often considered mischievous or malevolent in nature and like to play tricks on humans. It is also believed that jinns can be good or bad just like humans. They can also possess and sometimes shape-shift into animals, preferring snakes and dogs.

Huma Bird - a legendary mythical bird of good fortune from Sufi fables and Persian mythology. It is said to remain in flight all its life and never lands.

Peri (Fairy) - with its origin in Persian mythology, Peris are exquisite, winged creatures renowned for their beauty.

Suchi and Varoti - Suchi are mountain fairies who help in hunting and killing enemies. And Varoti is their violent male partner.

Jach - are female spirits of the soil or of special places, fields, and mountain pastures.

Bhoot or Bhoota (ghost) - supernatural creatures that are believed to be ghosts of deceased people. With their origin in Indian mythology, people in almost all parts of the Indian sub-continent believe in them, although, the stories about how a Bhoot is created might vary by region.

Pichal Pari - appears as a beautiful woman but has feet that are backward. She seduces men and drinks their blood.

Churel - a demonic mythical creature that resembles a woman. And often described as extremely ugly and hideous. It is said to be the ghost of an unpurified living thing. Some people believe that any woman who meets a wrongful death will come back as a churel to seek revenge.

Azhdaar or Chitrali Dragons - are described as large, winged serpents with golden manes like a lion. They are considered a sign of nobility and power.

Nihang - are dragons described much like Azhdaar, however, their appearance is more scaly and they are believed to have fish-like mouths. They are aquatic dragons that live in lakes. And unlike Azhdaar, they are considered malevolent in nature.

Halmasti - is a wolf-like creature the size of a horse, which spits flames out of its mouth. Locals consider encountering the Halmasti as a bad omen and sightings of them are often only seen at night.

Barmanu (the equivalent of Bigfoot or Yeti) - are described as giant bipedal apes, living in the mountains, which often attack livestock or attempt to abduct women.

Chatiboi - described as a creature that howls horribly during flash floods and avalanches in the region of Chitral.

Chumur Deki - an iron-legged creature (sometimes described as a horse with iron legs), which roams around during the snowy winter nights in the mountain areas.

Deo - a giant that lives in caves and dark forests. It can turn into a glowing globe of fire. Generally, it is a helpful and sometimes, mischievous being that makes occasional appearances in villages to help humans.

Nang - a giant that lives underwater and has one big central eye, much like Cyclops.

Nangini - a female entity or household spirit from Chitral's ancient religion, that would protect the home.

Barzangi - a demon that feasts on humans during periods of extreme rainfall and hailstorms.

Khapisi or Khapasa- an old hag-like demon who sits on the chest of a sleeping person, causing nightmares and sleep paralysis. It also hinders the victim's ability to breathe or move.

Feru-Tis - a special pixie that inhabits hearths.

Jashtan - pixies that take care of homes during the autumn festival when people are out doing agricultural work.

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Check out the next few chapters for Pakistani Legends and Folklore.