Bhoota (ghost)

A bhoota (Sanskrit: भूत, bhūta) is a supernatural creature, usually the ghost of a deceased person, in the popular culture, literature and some ancient texts of the Indian subcontinent.

[1] Interpretations of how bhootas come into existence vary by region and community, but they are usually considered to be perturbed and restless due to some factor that prevents them from moving on (to transmigration, non-being, nirvana, or swarga or naraka, depending on tradition).

There are many allegedly haunted places in the subcontinent, such as cremation grounds, dilapidated buildings, palaces, havelis, forts, forest bungalows, burning ghats, etc.

Ghosts and various supernatural entities form an integral part of the socio-cultural beliefs of both the Muslim and Hindu communities of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.

Fairy tales often use the concept of ghosts and references to paranormal activity are found amply in modern-day Bengali literature, cinema, radio and TV programmes.

Influenced by Arabic and Persian mythology, bhootas in the Pakistani society have a more varied and fluid identity, ranging from jinns from another realm made of fire, to ghosts of humans who died painful deaths.

[14] As the earth is regarded as sacred or semi-sacred in many traditions of the Indian subcontinent, bhootas will go to great lengths to avoid contact with it, often floating a fraction above it, although sometimes as much as a foot off the ground.

Consuming bhoota-contaminated milk is considered a typical route for bhoota- possession of humans, which has also been a frequent plot element in bhoota stories.

[citation needed] In many regions, bhootas are said to fear water and objects made iron or steel, so keeping either of these near at hand is believed to afford protection against them.

Though it is true that they can cause harm in their violent forms, as they are extremely powerful, they can be pacified through worship or offerings referred to as Bhuta Aradhana.