Some people believe that women of such low castes as Kolis, Vāghris and Chārans become Dākans. High caste Dākans are rare.[3]
A ghostly Dākan dresses in fine clothes and decks her person with ornaments. But she does not cover her back, which is horrible to look at. It is so frightful that any one happening to see it dies of horror.[4]
Ghostly Dākans trouble only women. When possessed by them, the latter have convulsive fits, loose their hair, and cry out without any reason.[5]
A ghostly Dākan lives with a man as his wife, brings him dainties and turns the refuse of food into flesh and bones. The man gradually becomes emaciated and ultimately dies.[6]
It is believed that generally a Dākan kills a man within six months.[7]
The Dākans do not allow calves to suck, cattle to give milk, and healthy persons to enjoy sound health. Sometimes they cause cattle to yield blood instead of milk.[8]
A Dākan by virtue of her powers, can ascend to the sky. She lives upon the flesh of corpses.[9]
A Dākan can assume any form she likes. She appears as a cat, a buffalo, a goat or any other animal. She can swell and shrink her body at will. Her feet are reversed.[10]
Dākans haunt trees, cemeteries, deserted tanks, mines or other desolate places.[11]
They also haunt ruins and places where four roads meet.[12]