Published 20:09 IST, October 25th 2019
All about West Bengal's own Halloween 'Bhoot Chaturdashi'
West Bengal celebrates its own Halloween named 'Bhoot Chaturdashi' on October 26 which is also Chhoti Diwali and Naraka Chaturdashi to ward off evil spirits.
West Bengal is about to celebrate its own version of Halloween on October 26 called Bhoot Chaturdashi or Narak Chaturdashi. As per the Saka era calendar, the day is observed on the 14th day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. In the North, it is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali but in the far east of India, it is a day of warding off evil spirits or ghosts. Bhoot Chaturdashi calls upon the 14 forefathers who are welcomed and warded off on the same day.
Odisha's Badabadiya Daka: Odiya Halloween
A similar custom is followed in the neighboring state of Odisha. Odiyas offer lighted sticks pointing it up to the sky for their forefathers. They ask the forefathers to come in the dark and leave in light. Special puja and offerings are also made for the dead. The custom is widely celebrated on the 22 holy steps of Jagannath Temple.
How is it similar to Halloween?
Like Halloween is the gateway between the dead and the living open, allowing the dead to crawl your streets, Bhoot Chaturdashi is a festival for dead forefathers. People light earthen lamps all around to ward off the evil spirits of the dead. There is also another belief that 'Chamunda' (a fearsome form of Kali) along with fourteen other ghostly forms ward off the evil spirits from the house. For the same reason, fourteen earthen-lamps are lit at different entrances and dark corners of the rooms to mark the same.
Why is the day observed?
Bhoot Chaturdashi is a tradition followed on the night of Kali puja in which the evil power is believed to be stronger. The 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 together. Bengal has a history of dark magic and so both Kali Puja and Bhoot Chaturdashi is a day when people worship the Goddess to keep their family and kids safe away from 'tantriks' ( black magicians).
Updated 20:34 IST, October 25th 2019