OlivaWilhite3: minor enhanced formatting per sources and cleaned formatting

2026-05-02T17:55:31Z

minor enhanced formatting per sources and cleaned formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 2 May 2026
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	[[File:Thakurmar Jhuli Dakkhinaranjan Mitra Majumder 1907.jpg\|thumbnail\|The depiction of a [[~~Demon~~\|Rakkhoshi]] queen at the king's palace, an illustration from the classic Bengali folk-lore collection ''[[Thakurmar Jhuli]]'' (1907) by [[Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumder]]]]		[[File:Thakurmar Jhuli Dakkhinaranjan Mitra Majumder 1907.jpg\|thumbnail\|The depiction of a [[Rakshasa\|Rakkhoshi]] queen at the king's palace, an illustration from the classic Bengali folk-lore collection ''[[Thakurmar Jhuli]]'' (1907) by [[Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumder]]]]

	~~Ghosts~~ are an integral part of the [[folklore]] ~~of the socio-cultural fabric of the geographical and ethno-linguistic region~~ of [[Bengal]] which presently consists of [[Bangladesh]] and the Indian states of [[West Bengal]] and [[Tripura]]. Bengali folktales and ~~Bengali~~ cultural identity are intertwined in such a way that ghosts depicted reflect the culture it sets in.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Sarker \|first=Dr. Sreemoyee \|date=2021 \|title=Ghosts in Bengali Folktales: Looking for Subaltern Cultural Identity \|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362326012 \|journal=Indian Folklore: Contemplation on Art, Aesthetics, and Culture \|pages=72 \|via=ResearchGate}}</ref> [[Fairy tales]], both old and new, often use the concept of ~~[[ghost]]s~~.		[[Ghost]]s are an integral part of the [[folklore]] of [[Bengal]], which presently consists of [[Bangladesh]] and the Indian states of [[West Bengal]] and [[Tripura]]. [[Bengali folktales]] and [[Culture of Bengal\|cultural identity]] are intertwined in such a way that ghosts depicted reflect the culture it sets in.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Sarker \|first=Dr. Sreemoyee \|date=2021 \|title=Ghosts in Bengali Folktales: Looking for Subaltern Cultural Identity \|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362326012 \|journal=Indian Folklore: Contemplation on Art, Aesthetics, and Culture \|pages=72 \|via=ResearchGate}}</ref> [[Fairy tales]], both old and new, often use the concept of ghosts.

	~~References to ghosts are often found in modern-day~~ [[Bengali ~~literature~~]]~~, cinema, radio and television media. There are also alleged haunted sites in the region. The common~~ word for ghosts ~~in Bengali~~ is ''[[Bhoot (ghost)\|bhoot]]~~'' or ''bhut~~'' ({{langx\|bn\|ভূত}}), which comes from ~~the~~ Sanskrit ~~word~~ bhūta (भूत), meaning 'past' or 'something that has passed'. Also, the word ''[[Preta\|~~Pret~~]]'' (derived from Sanskrit '~~Preta~~') is used in Bengali to mean ghost~~. The word~~ generally refers to the spirit of a deceased person, or entity that has passed on.		The common [[Bengali language\|Bengali]] word for ghosts is ''[[Bhoot (ghost)\|bhoot]]'' ({{langx\|bn\|ভূত\|bhūt}}), which comes from [[Sanskrit]] ''bhūta'' (भूत), meaning "past" or "something that has passed". Also, the word ''[[Preta\|pret]]'' ({{langx\|bn\|প্রেত\|prēt\|link=no}}, derived from Sanskrit ''prēta'') is used in Bengali to mean ghost, which generally refers to the spirit of a deceased person, or entity that has passed on. Among [[Bengali Muslims]], [[List of spiritual entities in Islam\|supernatural entities]] are largely recognised as ''[[jinn\|jin]]'' ({{langx\|bn\|জিন\|link=no}}, derived from [[Arabic]] ''jinn'') or ''jin-bhoot'' ({{langx\|bn\|জিন-ভূত}}).

	~~Among [[~~Bengali Muslims]], [[List of spiritual entities in Islam\|supernatural entities]] are largely recognised as ''Jinn'', or ''jinn bhoot'' ({{langx\|bn\|জিন ভূত}}) (derived from Arabic '[[Djinn]]'). In Bengal, ghosts are believed to be the unsatisfied spirits of human beings who cannot find peace after death or the souls of people who died in unnatural or abnormal circumstances like murders, suicides or accidents.		In Bengali folktales, ghosts and similar concepts are believed to be the unsatisfied spirits of human beings who cannot find peace after death or the souls of people who died in unnatural or abnormal circumstances like murders, suicides or accidents. References to ghosts are often found in modern-day [[Bengali literature]], cinema, radio and television media. There are also alleged haunted sites in the region.

	==Types of ghosts and other supernatural entities ==		==Types of ghosts and other supernatural entities ==
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	{{more footnotes needed\|section\|date=May 2019}}		{{more footnotes needed\|section\|date=May 2019}}

	There are many kinds of ghosts and supernatural entities that frequently come up in [[Bengali culture]] and folklore. Ghosts have been important in the socio-cultural beliefs, superstitions and popular entertainment of the [[Bengalis\|Bengali people]]. A few of these supernatural entities are mentioned here.<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Bhattacharyya \|first1=Narendra Nath \|year=2000 \|title=Indian Demonology: The Inverted Pantheon \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7HjXAAAAMAAJ \|publisher=Manohar Publishers & Distributors \|isbn=9788173043093}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|url=http://arts.bdnews24.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/thakurmar-jhuli.pdf\|title=Thakumar Jhuli\|work=bdnews24.com \|access-date=2016-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.storypick.com/ghosts-of-bengal/\|title=11 Different kinds Of Ghosts We Find In Bengali Culture\|last=Maiti\|first=Anwesha\|website=StoryPick\|date=16 September 2015 \|language=en-US\|access-date=2016-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.uky.edu/Centers/Asia/SECAAS/Seras/2013/2WhiteAdventures.pdf\|title= David Gordon White, Ḍākinī, Yoginī, Pairikā, Strix: Adventures in Comparative Demonology}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Saletore \|first1= Rajaram Narayan \|year=1981 \|title=Indian Witchcraft \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ETz3_bv8t0cC \|publisher=Abhinav Publications \|isbn= 9780391024809}}</ref><ref name="bhoot-fm.com\|title=Bhoot">{{Cite web\|url=http://bhoot-fm.com\|title=Bhoot FM - Download Bhoot FM Recorded Episodes\|website=Bhoot FM - Download Bhoot FM Recorded Episodes\|access-date=2016-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://mythfolklore.blogspot.~~co.uk~~/search/label/Unit%3A%~~20Bengali~~%~~20Folktales~~\|title= ~~Lal Behari Day, Folk~~-~~tales of Bengal~~}}</ref><ref>{{Citation\|last=তিথি ভট্টাচার্য\|script-title=bn:ভূতপূর্ব: ঊনবিংশ শতাব্দীর ভূত ও আমাদের ভবিষ্যৎ\|url=http://omegalibrary.com/topic2116.html\|access-date=23 July 2016\|archive-date=6 October 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006104545/http://omegalibrary.com/topic2116.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref>		There are many kinds of ghosts and supernatural entities that frequently come up in [[Bengali culture]] and folklore. Ghosts have been important in the socio-cultural beliefs, superstitions and popular entertainment of the [[Bengalis\|Bengali people]]. A few of these supernatural entities are mentioned here.<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Bhattacharyya \|first1=Narendra Nath \|year=2000 \|title=Indian Demonology: The Inverted Pantheon \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7HjXAAAAMAAJ \|publisher=Manohar Publishers & Distributors \|isbn=9788173043093}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|url=http://arts.bdnews24.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/thakurmar-jhuli.pdf\|title=Thakumar Jhuli\|work=bdnews24.com \|access-date=2016-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.storypick.com/ghosts-of-bengal/\|title=11 Different kinds Of Ghosts We Find In Bengali Culture\|last=Maiti\|first=Anwesha\|website=StoryPick\|date=16 September 2015 \|language=en-US\|access-date=2016-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.uky.edu/Centers/Asia/SECAAS/Seras/2013/2WhiteAdventures.pdf\|title= David Gordon White, Ḍākinī, Yoginī, Pairikā, Strix: Adventures in Comparative Demonology}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Saletore \|first1= Rajaram Narayan \|year=1981 \|title=Indian Witchcraft \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ETz3_bv8t0cC \|publisher=Abhinav Publications \|isbn= 9780391024809}}</ref><ref name="bhoot-fm.com\|title=Bhoot">{{Cite web\|url=http://bhoot-fm.com\|title=Bhoot FM - Download Bhoot FM Recorded Episodes\|website=Bhoot FM - Download Bhoot FM Recorded Episodes\|access-date=2016-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/search/label/Unit%3A%2BBengali%2BFolktales\|title=Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook}}</ref><ref>{{Citation\|last=তিথি ভট্টাচার্য\|script-title=bn:ভূতপূর্ব: ঊনবিংশ শতাব্দীর ভূত ও আমাদের ভবিষ্যৎ\|url=http://omegalibrary.com/topic2116.html\|access-date=23 July 2016\|archive-date=6 October 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006104545/http://omegalibrary.com/topic2116.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref>

	=== Jinn / Djinn ===		=== Jinn / Djinn ===
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	=== Brahmodaitya ===		=== Brahmodaitya ===
	A Brahmodaitya is the ghost of a holy [[Brahmin]], or the spirit of a priest and scholar from the highest [[Hindu caste]]. Depending on the story, these spirits may appear benevolent or malevolent. Many Bengali folktales and movies portray them as being very kind and helpful to the living.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Folk-tales of Bengal/The Story of a Brahmadaitya - Wikisource, the free online library \|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Folk-tales_of_Bengal/The_Story_of_a_Brahmadaitya \|access-date=2025-10-09 \|website=en.wikisource.org \|language=en}}</ref><ref>https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Halimah-Mohamed-Ali-2/publication/374266406_A_Review_of_the_Folk_Tales_of_Bengal/links/65c19c5c1bed776ae3326979/A-Review-of-the-Folk-Tales-of-Bengal.pdf ~~{{Bare URL PDF~~\|~~date~~=~~November 2025~~}}</ref>		A Brahmodaitya is the ghost of a holy [[Brahmin]], or the spirit of a priest and scholar from the highest [[Hindu caste]]. Depending on the story, these spirits may appear benevolent or malevolent. Many Bengali folktales and movies portray them as being very kind and helpful to the living.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Folk-tales of Bengal/The Story of a Brahmadaitya - Wikisource, the free online library \|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Folk-tales_of_Bengal/The_Story_of_a_Brahmadaitya \|access-date=2025-10-09 \|website=en.wikisource.org \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \| url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Halimah-Mohamed-Ali-2/publication/374266406_A_Review_of_the_Folk_Tales_of_Bengal/links/65c19c5c1bed776ae3326979/A-Review-of-the-Folk-Tales-of-Bengal.pdf \| title=A Review of the Folk Tales of Bengal \| website=www.researchgate.net}}</ref>

	Brahmodaitya reflects the rigid and discriminatory nature of caste hierarchies followed in the past. Socio-political experts point out the fact that most other ghosts in local folklores of Bengal are depicted as dark-skinned while Brahmodaitya is depicted as fair skinned and benevolent.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last1=Dasgupta \|first1=Shuvatri \|last2=Jash \|first2=Senjuti \|date=2017-01-01 \|title=Historicizing Ghosts: Reimagining Realities in Nineteenth Century Popular Bengali Fiction \|url=https://www.academia.edu/31412743 \|journal=JHI Blog}}</ref>		Brahmodaitya reflects the rigid and discriminatory nature of caste hierarchies followed in the past. Socio-political experts point out the fact that most other ghosts in local folklores of Bengal are depicted as dark-skinned while Brahmodaitya is depicted as fair skinned and benevolent.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last1=Dasgupta \|first1=Shuvatri \|last2=Jash \|first2=Senjuti \|date=2017-01-01 \|title=Historicizing Ghosts: Reimagining Realities in Nineteenth Century Popular Bengali Fiction \|url=https://www.academia.edu/31412743 \|journal=JHI Blog}}</ref>
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	There are some radio programs which feature recitation of horror stories. Such radio program is Sunday Suspense by [[Radio Mirchi]], aired from [[Kolkata]], which features recitation of horror stories, as well as stories of other genres such as detective fiction, fantasy, and Sci-fi, etc. Similar such radio program is Kuasha, aired by ABC Radio 89.2 FM from Bangladesh, which features horror stories written by writers, and also stories sent by listeners of the program.		There are some radio programs which feature recitation of horror stories. Such radio program is Sunday Suspense by [[Radio Mirchi]], aired from [[Kolkata]], which features recitation of horror stories, as well as stories of other genres such as detective fiction, fantasy, and Sci-fi, etc. Similar such radio program is Kuasha, aired by ABC Radio 89.2 FM from Bangladesh, which features horror stories written by writers, and also stories sent by listeners of the program.

	[[Pett Kata Shaw]], a 2021 anthology series released on [[Chorki (OTT)]], features the modern revival of the mysterious and lurid folklores of Mechho Bhoot, [[Jinn]], Kanabhulo and Nishi.<ref>~~Nuhash Humayun forayes further horror -~~ https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/moshari-director-nuhash-humayun-forays-further-horror-393886		[[Pett Kata Shaw]], a 2021 anthology series released on [[Chorki (OTT)]], features the modern revival of the mysterious and lurid folklores of Mechho Bhoot, [[Jinn]], Kanabhulo and Nishi.<ref>[https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/moshari-director-nuhash-humayun-forays-further-horror-393886 Nuhash Humayun forayes further horror]</ref>
	</ref>

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Thinkartha: fixed issues

2026-02-11T20:21:48Z

fixed issues

Show changes

>DrVogel: dab

2021-07-06T11:19:39Z

dab

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Ghosts in Bengali culture - Revision history

OlivaWilhite3: minor enhanced formatting per sources and cleaned formatting

Thinkartha: fixed issues

>DrVogel: dab