Chilli in South(East)Asian Culture

Southern India apparently uses chile peppers for a kind of magic, similar to its function as good luck charm in China (and similar to uses in Central America). In contrast, however, the color is not as important here: green peppers are (also) used:

Chilli is strung on a yarn together with limes and hung on walls or the ceiling; people tend to state that this were a silly belief, but as it's supposed to ward off bad influences, why not...

According to a news report (but never corroborated), there is at least one Buddhist ceremony in Southeast Asia (Thailand) in which chile peppers and salt are burnt to banish evil spirits.
(Alle und alles andere müsste er eigentlich auch vertreiben können, Chillirauch ist so etwas wie das Kampfgas des armen Mannes - in Mesoamerica wurde es auch manchmal so verwendet!)