According to certain Hindu beliefs in Bengal, lighting fourteen lamps (known as “Chaturdashi lamps”) around the house drives away evil spirits, while others believe it helps dispel negative energies.
There are also those who say that on the evening before Kali
Puja, the ancestors from both the paternal and maternal lineages visit the
earthly realm, and the lamps are lit to please them.
Where should the fourteen lamps be placed?
- In the prayer room (thakurghar) — this is considered a key place for a lamp.
- If there is a Tulsi altar (Tulsi mancha) in the house, place one lamp near it as it is also a sacred spot.
- Place two lamps on either side of the main entrance door of the house. Some believe it is auspicious to keep a clove (lobongo) there as well.
- Place one lamp near the water source of the house — for instance, near the well, water tap, or in front of the bathroom.
- Keep one lamp on the southern side of the house. This is the direction of Yama
- In earlier times, many homes had earthen stoves (clay ovens); if you have one, place a lamp there too.
- Place one lamp at the center of the main doorway.
- Each lamp in the four corner (like northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest) directions of the house
- One lamp is lit for ancestors. It is kept separately near the front door
- One lamp is lit for bhoot and other spirits that guard the house. This is kept in the main gate of the house.
According to some, adding a little jaggery (gur) there is
also considered auspicious.
Apart from lighting the lamps, it is also said to be good to
burn incense (dhuno) in the house on this day.
For that, you can use rock salt (saindhav), neem leaves,
black mustard seeds, cloves, and camphor.