All about West Bengal's own Halloween 'Bhoot Chaturdashi'

West Bengal is about to celebrate its own version of Halloween on October 26 called Bhoot Chaturdashi or Narak Chaturdashi. As per Saka era calendar, day is observed on 14th day of Krishna Paksha in Hindu month of Kartik. In rth, it is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali but in far east of India, it is a day of warding off evil spirits or ghosts. Bhoot Chaturdashi calls upon 14 forefars who are welcomed and warded off on same day.

Read: Guy Fieri's Fake Halloween Costume Starts Hilarious Meme Trend

Odisha's Badabadiya Daka: Odiya Halloween

A similar custom is followed in neighboring state of Odisha. Odiyas offer lighted sticks pointing it up to sky for ir forefars. y ask forefars to come in dark and leave in light. Special puja and offerings are also made for dead. custom is widely celebrated on 22 holy steps of Jagannath Temple.

Read: Minnesota Museum Holds 'Creepiest Doll Contest' Ahead Of Halloween

How is it similar to Halloween?

Like Halloween is gateway between dead and living open, allowing dead to crawl your streets, Bhoot Chaturdashi is a festival for dead forefars. People light earn lamps all around to ward off evil spirits of dead. re is also ar belief that 'Chamunda' (a fearsome form of Kali) along with fourteen or ghostly forms ward off evil spirits from house. For same reason, fourteen earn-lamps are lit at different entrances and dark corners of rooms to mark same. 

Read: Halloween: Some Easy Pranks To Play To Spook Your Friends Out

Why is day observed?

Bhoot Chaturdashi is a tradition followed on night of Kali puja in which evil power is believed to be stronger. custom is practiced to ward off this evil. Many Bengalis also cook and eat fourteen different kinds of leafy vegetables (Choddo Shaak) on this day cooked toger. Bengal has a history of dark magic and so both Kali Puja and Bhoot Chaturdashi is a day when people worship Goddess to keep ir family and kids safe away from 'tantriks' ( black magicians).

Read: Halloween 2019: 5 Spookiest Bollywood Movies To Watch At Night