Bhoots Of Bengal

When we talk about the literature of Bengal, ghosts or bhoots are featured prominently in various legends, lore, and fables. Often passed on to each other through oral mediums, these tales have become a part of the societal framework and cultural experiences of the Bengal community. Unlike popular notions, where it is known that ghosts haunt home settings, Bengali spirits frequently inhabit the region's marshes, ponds, and woodlands, with some even capable of taking human form.

Ghosts and bedtime stories are just a perfect combination; Image Source: Culture Trip

The day was drawing to a close. The sky outside displayed a brilliant topaz, the deep topaz of sunset. Dark shadows had crawled in under the doorway, through the windows, and into the big uninhabited house's lonely corridor. Leaves and branches sprouted from crevices in the ceilings where the plaster had torn away. Isn’t this a typical scene that we all imagine when we enter an abandoned house? Horror legends and movies have told us everything that we need to know about ghosts. But have you ever heard of bhoot? Most of you might think that ghosts and bhoot are all the same. This is where you’re wrong.

Have you ever been to Kolkata? If you have, then you must have seen the biggest legends of the world including the iconic Howrah Bridge, the cute trams that still run across the city, the majestic Victoria Memorial, the king of sweet dishes rasagolla, maccher jhol, puchka, and the endless festivities of Maa Durga’s Utsav. In short, we could say that Kolkata has an amalgamation of sweet, spicy, bright, colorful, and historical objects that enhances the beauty of this city. Though every street of Kolkata glows like a new bride during the day, certain dark things happen only during the night.

The eerie tales of Kolkata not only scare away the children to sleep but also forces the adults of the house shut their windows and doors so that no shadow can creep into their homes that are lurking out there in dark, waiting for their next victim. While some of these might be lore from the locals to entice the visitors, some of the legends are more than just an imagination. These tales converge between reality and imagination and can give you the spooky feeling at night where you might feel something under your bed.

When kids, the Bengali parents, and grandparents make sure to instill the Bengali culture in them. Be it through bedtime stories or everyday rituals, nothing gets left behind. But most Bengali kids might have heard of some famous legends like Rakkhosh, Khokkosh, Petni, Shakchunni, Mamdo Bhoot, Brahmadaitya, Pishach, and many more such characters. These demons have haunted us at night during our sleep.

Apart from these legends, there are some places in Kolkata as well tell us some haunted stories. Places like National Library, The Royal Calcutta Turf Club, Bhoot Bangla, Park Street Cemetery, Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station, Kolkata Dock, Ghats Of The Ganges, Writer’s Building At BBD Bag, House Of Dolls, and Lower Circular Road Cemetery, are still haunted with the spirits of people who have died here. In this story, we will explore some lore of Bengal that kids often hear in their bedtime stories. Let’s haunt the creatures from the dark and make them our subjects of an experiment for today.

Ghost stories have been an important part of Indian folklore. You see an abandoned building in your society, and the next day, rumors start spreading of a ghost wearing a white saree. But when we talk of Bengal, bhoots are essential to the cultural fabric of Bengal's topographical and ethnolinguistic area. Be it fairy tales or local legends, ghosts are featured everywhere in a spooky manner. The modern-day Bengali literature, TV, radio, and cinema, too, bring out the nuances of bhoot tales, inspired by the real stories of Bengal.

While people in Bengal commonly call ghosts bhoot, this word means past in Bengal. Yet some others speak of pret, which also means ghost. Ghosts are said to be the dissatisfied souls of humans who cannot make solace after death, or the souls of those who died in strange or abnormal conditions such as murders, suicides, or accidents in Bengal. Non-human creatures can also become ghosts after death. There are several types of ghosts and other supernatural beings that appear regularly in Bengali tradition and culture.

Ghosts have played a major role in the Bengali people's socio-cultural beliefs, superstitions, and popular entertainment. In Kolkata, some terrifying secrets, weird beliefs, and allegedly true ghost legends freeze the bone and blood to hell.

One of the most famous legends of Bengal is Brahmadaitya. It is said that when a Brahmin dies, his soul takes the form of a Brahmadaitya. In India, when the Brahmin boys come to a suitable age, a polite ceremony is held. If by any chance, the brahmin dies within ten days of the polite ceremony, then his soul becomes a Brahmadaitya. It is said that these ghosts often live in the peepul trees which are considered sacred in Hinduism. It is said that Brahmadaityas only eat food that is prepared by other Brahmins and is purified through prayers. They are also benevolent and kind. But according to Lal Behari Day, a famous Bengali folklorist, “Should their dignity be contemned, or their sanctum sanctorum be invaded or desecrated, their rage knows no bounds, and the neck of the offender is ruthlessly wrung and broken – a species of vengeance to which they are somewhat partial.”

The character that emerges from Bengal mythology is Petni. They are said to be the spirits of women who have some unfinished business in the mortal world. Though they might look pretty similar to any living woman, their feet are pointed backward, giving off an eerie vibe. It is said that they often make the sandpaper fig trees their home. According to some legends, they are filled with sexual desire and often lure men into their trap, only to later on, kill them and drink their blood. However, some people also consider her to be the embodiment of feminism that pushes back patriotism. For instance, Rabindranath Tagore often adds female ghosts to his writings to bring more light to the plight of women.

The next horror character is Sankhachurnis. They are ghosts of widowed and married women. They can be seen wearing white-colored attires that are quite similar to white conch shells or sankha. They often possess married women so that they can relive their married days once again. In popular folklore, a woman slightly brushes past a Sankhachurni and this action makes the ghost angry. She then traps the woman in a tree and takes the form of that woman to enter her house. Seeing her increased efficiency, the mother-in-law and husband are impressed. But her true form is finally revealed when some weird actions take form. The woman extends her arm to fetch herself food and puts her foot in the fire to light the fuel. The burned turmeric test eventually shows her actual nature, and she is compelled to confess and free the lady she imprisoned.

But this isn’t the end of our list as we will cover some more legends including Mecho bhoots, Skondhokatas, Aleya, and Nishi dak. Stay tuned for the next part where we reveal the intentions and backstory of these horror characters.