Warding off those evil glances

It was great to find a sparkling blue amulet on my desk, with a note from my Turkish labmate (and friend) that screamed "A small gift from Turkey!". She told me that the Nazar Boncugu (thats the name) is a blue bead believed to ward off evil, and used as a protection from the 'negative' energy that emanates from the glances of certain people. It is believed that the bead, when worn visibly, draws the energy to itself, diffusing its power thus rendering the 'evil' energy ineffective.
What struck me was the similarity of beliefs across cultures. I remember my grandmother mentioning similar stuff: In Tamizh, its called "Kannu Vekkarthu" :). And when she'd suddenly feel vulnerable about our family's well being (because of the 'negative glances' that outsiders cast over us), she would ask us all to assemble in the living room, take some salt in her fist, warn all of us to be silent through the entire ritual (and for some strange reason, we kids, all my cousins and I, could never stop giggling!). She would then chant a mantra silently and rotate her arms clockwise first and the other way next, three times each. She would then press her fist against the ground, and inevitably the finger knuckles would crackle, and the she'd explain later that the loudness of the crackle was 'directly proportional' to the negative energy that the family had fallen victim to. And then we'd all disperse in different directions (continuing to stupidly giggle and share in the mischevious mirth). 'Suthi Podarthu' - as this ritual is called, is practised in most South Indian families I guess - the salt is supposed to absorb the negative energy that pervades in the house, and protect us from misfortune.