As in Mahalaya food and water are offered to the patriarchs, similarly there is a provision in our scriptures to light a lamp for the patriarchs on the Chaturdashi tithi of the Krishna Paksha of the month of Kartika or in one word just before Kali Puja. For Bengali Hindus this tithi is called 'Bhoot Chaturdashi', on the other hand in parts of West and South India this tithi is called 'Narak Chaturdashi'.
According to mythological belief, Lord Krishna killed Narakasura on the Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartika. That is why Bengali's 'Bhoot Chaturdashi', 'Hell Chaturdashi' in parts of West and South India. Apart from this, in different states of India, this day is also known as Chhota Diwali, Roop Chaudas, Narka Chaudas, Roop Chaturdashi or Narka Puja.
?Somewhere on this day Yamaraj and Shri Krishna are worshipped. Many people worship Yamaraj on this day for long life and health protection. A special ritual to observe Bhoot Chaturdashi is to light 14 lamps at home.
Halloween Eve is celebrated in the western world around the same time (October 31 every year) to commemorate the spirits of the afterlife. The history of this haunted festival is more than 2000 years old. Halloween Eve means 'holy evening'.
Why are 14 lamps lit?
According to ancient scriptures, Puranas, myths, there are various explanations behind this practice. For example, one view is that Goddess Chamunda, accompanied by 14 ghost attendants, destroyed the evil forces on the Chaturdashi tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartika. According to another view, the gates of heaven and hell are opened for a while on this day. Through that door the souls of the other world return to the mortal world. The incorporeal souls of the fourteen men of the paternal and matrilineal families came down to the house of the householder.
It is on this date that King Boli along with numerous attendants came down to earth with ghosts and ghosts to worship. Apart from the ghosts of Bali kings, ancestors, various departed souls come down to the mortal world on this day.
14 lamps are lit to ward off ghosts, ghouls, ghosts, curses of unsatisfied souls and to ward off 'negative' energy or evil energy from the house.