{"id":12171,"date":"2022-10-03T16:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T11:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savaari.com\/blog\/?p=12171"},"modified":"2024-01-18T10:47:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T05:17:52","slug":"indian-halloween-festivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.savaari.com\/blog\/indian-halloween-festivals\/","title":{"rendered":"Did you know about these Indian Halloween festivals?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trick or treat?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From classics like Scooby Doo and The Simpsons to newer fare like Stranger Things and Friends, Halloween episodes and flicks never fail to transport us to a make-believe supernatural world where our favorite characters are dressed up in their spookiest best! But did you ever hear about Indian Halloween festivals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internationally, the celebration of Halloween goes back to 2000 years as a pagan festival, during which the \u201cthin wall\u201d or the \u201cgateway\u201d between the spiritual realm and the living world was believed to have opened up. It was the day when the departed souls would come out on the streets and communicate with people. Which is why people would dress up in gory costumes and light bonfires to ward off the evil spirits. Moreover, they would distribute \u2018soul cakes\u2019 to the poor in return for their promise to pray for the family\u2019s ancestors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, the significance of the festival has changed in an attempt to eliminate the \u2018superstitious\u2019 beliefs. Today, Halloween is about themed parties, candies and pumpkin decors when little kids and adults don their spooky costumes and go about door to door trick-or-treating.<\/p>\n\n\n

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On Halloween, the \u201cgateway\u201d between the spiritual realm and the living world was believed to have opened up. <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Indian Halloween Festivals with a Desi twist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While one may argue about the fuss over a western festival, the celebration in India is more about a cultural extravaganza where religious context takes a backseat. It\u2019s a whimsical excuse to host a costume party which involves dressing up, seeking treats and spending the evening storytelling and enjoying delicacies with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The past couple of years has, in fact, seen an upward trend in the popularity of festivals cutting across religious lines. Due to increased craze and exposure to American movies, sitcoms and pop culture, festivals like New Year\u2019s Eve, Valentine\u2019s Day and Halloween are slowly catching up<\/strong> and have started to make a place in the hearts of Indians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip:<\/strong> For those seeking thrill and chills this Halloween, we have curated this list of the spookiest places in India you can visit<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indian Halloween Festivals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the world preps for Halloween this October 31<\/strong>, here\u2019s a look at a few Indian festivals which are eerily similar to Halloween – the ceremonies to appease the souls of our ancestors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Bhoot Chaturdashi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Bhoot Chaturdashi, a festival celebrated to honor forefathers by lighting 14 lamps<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Predominantly a festival celebrated in West Bengal, Bhoot Chaturdashi is celebrated on the night before Kali Puja. Similar to Halloween, it is believed that the souls of the last 14 forefathers of each family visit their living relatives on this day. Instead of going trick or treating for candies, people consume 14 leafy green vegetables; and instead of the Jack o\u2019Lanterns, 14 earthen lamps are lighted to ward off the evil spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Also Read: Pretha Kalyanam \u2013 The Marriage of the Dead<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Badabadua Daka<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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A special #Odisha<\/a> #Diwali<\/a> ritual. Inviting ancestors to earth to give blessings & then guiding their way back. #BadabaduaDaka<\/a> #HappyDiwali<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hrzyzkpcGp<\/a><\/p>— Sharell Cook (@AboutIndia) October 20, 2017<\/a><\/blockquote>