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Comparing Halloween and Bhoot Chaturdoshi
Two distinct eerie festivals with similarities, differences, and more
If you have Bengali acquaintances, you’ve probably heard them tell you about our very own brand of eerie festivities at the end of October. Here’s demystifying both these unique celebrations:
Bhoot Chaturdoshi and Halloween are two popular festivals that invite people to think about spirits, the supernatural, and the mysteries of the afterlife. Yet, they have unique origins, cultural significance, and rituals.
While Halloween has grown into a global celebration of costumes, candies, and playful scares, Bhoot Chaturdoshi is a more solemn, ancestral Hindu ritual celebrated by Bengalis.
Origins and Cultural Background
Halloween traces its roots back to an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, celebrated around 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and some parts of France.
