In many places, the day before Kali Puja is called Narak Chaturdashi. According to popular belief, the gates of hell open on this day. There is also a belief that on Bhoot Chaturdashi, ghosts and spirits descend to earth. For this reason, people are forbidden from going out after evening on this day.
Bengalis have special customs on Bhoot Chaturdashi. On this day, 14 lamps are lit and 14 greens are eaten. There is a tradition of eating rice with 14 types of greens on this day. And in the evening, a total of 14 lamps are lit at various places in the house. But why is there a tradition of eating 14 greens, and why are 14 lamps lit on this day?
Which greens should be included among these 14 types?
According to popular belief, on the day of Bhoot Chaturdashi, the gates of heaven and hell open for some time, when souls descend to earth. It is believed that King Bali also comes to earth on this day with ghosts and spirits. There is a prevalent belief that the influence of evil forces increases on this day. To keep these evil forces away from one's home, 14 lamps are lit. Since the day is Chaturdashi, 14 lamps are lit.
According to another belief, ancestors come to Earth on the day of Bhoot Chaturdashi and return the same day. On the night before the new moon, 14 lamps are lit to show them the way in the darkness. The house where 14 lamps are lit proves that the members of that house have not forgotten their deceased ancestors.
Again, the day of Bhoot Chaturdashi is also known as Yama Chaturdashi in many places. There is a popular belief that lighting lamps in the name of Yamraj on this day can avoid the fear of untimely death. On this day, there is a custom of offering tarpan to the 14 Yamas.
These 14 Yamas are Dharmaraj, Mrityu, Antak, Sarvabhutakshay, Vrikodar, Vaivasvat, Urumbar, Kaal, Yama, Dadhan, Paramesthi, Neen, Chitra and Chitragupta. The Padma Purana says that bathing in the Ganga on Bhoot Chaturdashi reduces the suffering of hell.
There is a tradition of eating 14 types of greens on the day of Bhoot Chaturdashi. These 14 greens are – ol, keo, beto, kalakasunda, neem, sarshey, shalincha or shanche, jayanti, gulanch, palta, ghetu or bhat, hinche, shushni, shelu. Eating these 14 greens during the seasonal change increases our body's immunity.
Actually, during this time of Autumn, Winter gradually sets in. At this time, various diseases, including cold and cough, appear. It is believed that the scripture writers had instructed to eat 14 greens on this day to combat those diseases.
