Types of ghosts in Bengali culture.
Ghosts are an important part of the folklore , and form an integral part of the socio-cultural beliefs of the people living in the geographical and ethno-linguistic region of Bengal , which today consists of the independent nation of Bangladesh , and the Indian states of West Bengal . Fairy tales , both old and new, often use the concept of ghosts . In modern-day Bengali literature , cinema and also in radio & television media, the references to ghosts are often found. There are also many alleged haunted sites in this region. It is believed that the spirits of those who cannot find peace in the afterlife or die unnatural deaths remain on Earth. The common word for ghosts in Bengali is bhoot or bhut ( Bengali : ভূত). This word has an alternative meaning: 'past' in Bengali. Also, the word Pret (derived from Sanskrit 'Preta') is used in Bengali to mean ghost. In Bengal, ghosts are believe...