India and Venezuela lie separated by thousands of kms of restless water – the Arabian Sea, the endless Indian Ocean, the vast Atlantic, and finally the warm Caribbean Sea. Swirling currents and unbroken horizons stretch between our shores, yet no depth of ocean can sever the invisible threads that bind human hearts.In the Llanos grasslands of Venezuela and the quiet villages of India, storytellers have long guarded the tales of two sorrowful spirits: La Sayona, who walks dusty roads at night in a flowing white dress, and Mohini Pisachu, who drifts through coconut groves in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and through shadowed fields scented with night flowers in Bihar and Bengal.The similarity between the story of Venezuela’s La Sayona and India’s Mohini Pisachu is striking.La SayonaLegend has it that in the vast plains of Venezuela, there once lived a woman named Casinda, renowned for her extraordinary beauty and her deep, passionate love for her husband. She wandered freely through village groves and swam in rivers framed by enchanting woods.One day, while Casinda bathed naked in a river, a man whispered poison into her ears. He told her that the husband she loved blindly was unfaithful and worse, that he was involved with her own mother. These words ignited a storm within her.Consumed by jealousy and rage, Casinda returned home and set it ablaze, burning her husband and mother alive. The suddenness of the act left them helpless; they died instantly. In her final breath, her mother – or in some versions, her father – cursed Casinda, condemning her to live after death as a spirit deprived of love and compassion, wandering the world restlessly.As the flames died and blood cooled, the truth emerged: the man who had poisoned her mind was a liar, driven by lust for Casinda and envy of her husband. Maddened once again, Casinda killed the deceiver and then died by suicide.Thus was born La Sayona, a haunting apparition of beauty clad in flowing white. She appears on lonely roads, outside liquor shops, canteens, and roadside restaurants, seeking men who drink heavily, chase other women and betray their wives. With sugary words and promises of ecstasy, she lures them into her dark domain.But when they embrace her, her face transforms into a grinning skull, her nails into deadly claws. She torments her victims violently, driving them into irreversible madness or death.Even today, the Llaneros warn: If you see a beautiful woman on a lonely road, turn away—for La Sayona will strike.Mohini PisachuHere, Mohini does not refer to Vishnu’s enchanting female avatar, but to a feared class of dangerous female spirits. Known as Mohini Pisachu or Mohini Pe in Kerala and Tamil Nadu – and as Churel or Chudail across the plains of Bengal, Bihar and across the wider Indian subcontinent including Bangladesh and Pakistan – she embodies betrayal, desire and vengeance.Mohini is believed to be the spirit of a woman who died prematurely with intense, unfulfilled desires or was betrayed by her husband and cruelly mistreated by her in-laws. In many tellings, she dies during childbirth, or is murdered by her husband or lover.Versions of this folktale vary across regions, but a common core binds them all. The spirit appears in secluded places as a woman of irresistible beauty, with flowing black hair, a seductive voice, and the sweet, intoxicating fragrance of perfume. She lures men – especially those who betray their wives or lovers – into isolation.Once alone, she reveals her true demonic form: feet turned backward, eyes aflame, a face twisted into terror. She may drain her victim’s life force through endless seduction, possess him, or kill him outright.In Kerala’s folklore, Mohini Pisachu is particularly feared for her ability to shapeshift, making her almost impossible to exorcise without powerful mantras and ritual knowledge.India-Venezuela’s TiesAcross nations and cultures, democracy- and justice-loving people have expressed outrage at the manner in which United States President Donald Trump has arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, seizing control of the oil-rich nation.It is for political leaders, diplomats, and the United Nations to intervene and resolve the Venezuelan crisis. Yet the stories of La Sayona of Venezuela and Mohini of India carry a deeper moral warning: humanity must not fall prey to power, greed, lust, and lucre. These folktales remind us that despite vast geographical distances, people are bound by a shared thread of love, coexistence, and humanity – values rooted deep in human existence.Diplomatic relations between India and Venezuela span more than 65 years. The two nations maintain resident embassies – India in Caracas and Venezuela in New Delhi – and share warm ties grounded in South-South cooperation, mutual respect for sovereignty and similar perspectives on global issues.The years 2024-2025 witnessed events marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, including tree-planting ceremonies and invocations of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.This writer – a passionate folklorist – has attempted to invoke the bond between the two nations through folktales rooted in human emotion and sensibility, values that must be preserved in the larger interest of global culture and society.Nalin Verma is a journalist and folklorist. He has authored two books of folktales—The Greatest Folk Tales of Bihar and Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath. He contributes stories to various South Asian and UK literary forums.