Burning Chillis?

My eyes started to water almost immediately I entered the home. I had gone to congratulate the family of a friend on the birth of their first grandchild. It turned out that the cause of my watering eyes was the smoke of burning chillies. My friend was an educated science teacher, so as a Westerner I was somewhat surprised to find they were burning the chillies to ward off the evil eye. They had had many visitors to congratulate them on the birth of the baby. The baby had been somewhat unsettled after a while and they were concerned that someone had put the evil eye on her. It had never occurred to me that too much adoration could cause harm. Since that time I have recognised we are called to bless, not admire.