ZAR, NOBAN, MASHAYEKH
Zar, Noban and Mashayekh are different types of Bad, i.e. a natural force, an invisible entity that controls the universe. Fairies, demons and good and evil spirits belong to a general category that is called Bâd or Hava. Men and the whole world are possessed by these creatures which are either of good or of bad nature.
In psychological literature there are many references to some possessive states of mind that is totally common in Africa and in some part of Asia (including the southern coast of Iran). These pathologic conditions are caused by zars, mashayekh and noban etc. They differ in their danger for the haunted patient. The indigenous people believe that mashayekh are Muslim and zars are heretics. Thirteen zars are known in southern coasts of Iran, each with a historical, national (Arab, Indian, Swahili), and religious identity. Haunted by anyone of them, the patient reacts hysterically and his/her mood changes dramatically and he/she does not respond to any medical treatment. A baba or mama - always a member of negro minority - can cure the patient, who is now called markab. Baba or Mama is a person who can control the bad or zar. These folk curators are actually specialized in treating only one or two zars. For curing the possessed patient a party (majlis) is held in which the zar is overcome and the patient is actually initiated to Ahl-e Hava, a group of neurotic and/or hysteric people that because of the strong beliefs of members in taboos is actually represented as a religions sect.
If Baba or Mama fails to overcome the zar, the patient is sent to exile; he or she is usually behaved like a heretic or all-possessed afterwards; no one permits him/her to enter the village. He or she is now called a tahran, a person with psychotic illusions wandering in deserts and shores and islands of the region.

Sheykh-e Shangar
One of the most dangerous of all zars, he is from Jabal-al-Rih (Mountain of Winds). A mountain-wanderer, he comes to the deserts and seeks his victim. The poor victim loses all his tranquility, often sees terrible nightmares. A skilled exorcist is necessary to overcome it. Skin of the patient erupts in blisters, that grow and enlarge day by day until they cover the whole of his/her body.

Dinge Maru
She is an old-woman who is fond of playing and dancing. Anywhere dohol is played, she appears to choose her victim. She is not as malignant as Sheykh-e Shangar, but is more prevalent especially in Bandar Abbas. The victim initially complains of deep and piercing pain in the eyes followed by severe headache. Dinge Maru leaves her markab (possessed) for 1 or 2 years. If he or she does not sacrifice for her, she begins to disturb the patient.

The Healing Procedure
Whenever the patient is diagnosed by a Baba or Mama, he or she is kept isolated for 7 days out of the sight of other people. The body of the patient is washed clean and he is prevented from seeing women, dogs and chicken. The victim is put in a hollow tent near the sea-shore, cured only by mama or baba. A hand-made balsam, "Gareh-Ku", is rubbed to his or her body. After this period is over, the patient is ready for the party (majlis; zaran) to be held. The patient lies, the great toes of his or her feet are fastened by goat wool; cod-liver oil is held under his/her nose and the baba threatens the genie to leave the body of patient. After this exorcise only zar remains in the head of the patient. Majlis is held with the participation of numerous girls and women of Ahl-e Hava. During the exorcise of zar they play dohol and sung together with other members. Baba or Mam begins "playing" with his or her bamboo sticks, percussing dohol and singing songs either in Swahili or Arabic language. There are also non-sense verses. At the beginning a goat is decapitated and its blood is gathered in a flat dish, ready for zar to drink from it.
Majlis continues until zar is overcome. This sometimes takes more than 1 or 2 days, and culminates in a general ecstasy of the participants. Afterwards zar is overcome; i.e. zar is tamed. But it remains forever in the head of this new member of Ahl-e Hava. ...