She’s on every Bengaluru construction site: Who is this big-eyed 'Dristi Gombe' woman everyone is talking about?

If you pay attention while travelling through a city, really pay attention, stories begin to unfold everywhere. Half-finished buildings, odd signboards, scribbles on autorickshaws and faces you didn’t expect to see can all spark curiosity.

That’s exactly what happened to a Maharashtrian woman living in Bengaluru, who goes by the handle @unitechy on X.

During her travels across Karnataka, especially outside Bengaluru, she kept noticing the same striking image again and again: a saree-clad woman with wide, kohl-lined eyes, hanging prominently from buildings under construction.


The image was impossible to ignore. And soon enough, it raised a big question, who is this woman, and why is her face everywhere?

A Mystery Image Seen Across Karnataka Construction Sites

After spotting the poster multiple times, the woman decided to click a photo. Curious to crack the mystery, she even tried Google Lens, hoping it would reveal the identity behind the face. But the search came up empty.

With no clear answers, she took the question to X.

“I see this woman everywhere in Karnataka, outside Bengaluru, where there’s construction happening. I tried Google Lens to check for discussions, but can’t find any details. Who is she?” she wrote.


Her post quickly struck a chord online.

X Reacts: Evil Eye Charm or Internet Meme?

Shared on January 5, 2026, the post went viral, clocking over 3.2 million views in just days. X users jumped in with theories, jokes and cultural explanations.

One user suggested, “This is a nazarbattu, something like an evil eye charm used to keep negative energies away at construction sites.”

Another said similar images are often used to protect buildings from bad luck, theft or accidents during construction.

A third pointed out that traditionally, such charms are devil-like faces with exaggerated tongues. “This one feels modern. Maybe it started as a meme,” the user added.

AI Identifies the Woman in the Viral Poster

The mystery took an interesting turn when one X user shared a screenshot from an AI platform. According to the bot, the woman in the image is Niharika Rao, a Karnataka-based YouTuber.


The AI explained that the expression came from a viral video clip from 2023, which later turned into a meme. Over time, locals began using the image in a humorous way, calling it a ‘Dristi Gombe’, a traditional charm believed to ward off the evil eye.

Another user joked, “It’s a demonic sigil that comes after thieves if they steal anything.”

Why Is the Image Suddenly Everywhere?

What started as a meme appears to have blended seamlessly with local beliefs. The familiar idea of protecting construction sites from bad luck has taken on a modern twist, replacing traditional symbols with a face that went viral online.


As more users share photos of the same poster hanging across Bengaluru markets and construction zones, the image continues to surprise people who spot it for the first time.

In a city full of stories waiting to be noticed, sometimes all it takes is looking up from your phone.

Inputs from agencies