Belief in the pelesit traces back to Malay animism[3] before the introduction of monotheism.
Two rituals exist for acquiring a pelesit, both of which involve recitation of the correct incantations and biting off the tongue of a dead child.
If a pelesit enters a person's body and chirps, it is calling for the polong, which can make the victim go insane or unconscious.
A shaman (bomoh or dukun) cures the victim by using a specific incantation and then asking them to reveal their "mother", meaning the pelesit's owner.
The victim replies in a high-pitched voice, after which the shaman attempts to make the owner recall it.