Halloween is among the most renowned festivals around the world. However, how many people have heard of Indian festivals with a lot in common with Halloween? While there aren’t costumes or pumpkins, the customs are identical. In the meantime, as the world is dressed up for Halloween, we’ll take some of our unique desi versions of the holiday.
Badabadiya Daka, Odisha
Badabadiya Daka is a celebration celebrated throughout Odisha, the Indian State of Odisha. It is celebrated during the festival of Diwali. The Badabadiya Daka festival is a specific puja ceremony performed to honor the forefathers who pray and ask that they come out of the darkness to leave in the light. It is a tradition to light up sticks, place them in the sky, and then pray for their deceased. The festival is held at the sacred steps of the famed Jagannath Temple in Odisha.
Mahalaya Amavasya during Pitru Paksha
In India, people observe Pitra Paksha, a 16-day festival during which Hindus pay homage and offer prayers to their ancestral relatives. The final day of Pitru Paksha is one of the most significant and is known by Sarvapitri Amavasya (also known as Mahalaya Amavasya. During this entire time, families perform Shraddha (a ceremony) in which water and food are presented to the defunct souls. This is to ensure all the spirits of our past ancestors are taken care of all the way to the end and continue to be in heaven.
Bhoot Chaturdashi
Then follows The Bhoot Chaturdashi, also known as Narak Chaturdashi. According to Hindu customs, the day is observed during the fourteenth day of Krishna Paksha in Kartik month (according to the Hindu calendar). It is believed that in North India, Chhoti Diwali is observed on the same date; However, in the far east, it is the day on which evil spirits are removed. On this day, 14 forefathers are referred to and then exiled, and rituals include 14 kinds of cooked vegetables, and 14 lamps of earth lit during the day.
Shab-e-Barat
Shab Barat is a different celebration most often held by the Muslim community. It’s observed during the night of Sha’aban on 14th September, and people make a prayer to God as He writes their fate. Also called The Night of Records or the Night of Fortune and Forgiveness, It is believed that God determines the fate of people by their actions. During celebrations, people go to the graves of loved relatives and pray for them.
