Straddling
the line between fall and winter, life and death, Halloween is a time of
celebration and superstition. It is believed to have originated with the
ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear
costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III
designated November 1 as a time to honour all saints and martyrs. The holiday,
All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening
before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween
evolved into a secular, community-based event characterised by child-friendly
activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the
world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to
usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.
In
Goa, many look upon the Halloween season as an opportunity to party but what
about the so called supernatural experiences that people have experienced?
Joash Gonsalves, an engineering student from Aldona, has an interesting story
to share. “There is a location in Balli, Cuncolim that brings back memories
that scare me,” he says. He once was challenged by a friend to travel to the
railway station and spend five minutes in the wee hours past midnight. It is
said that there is a ghost that inhabits the railway station from 12 am to 4 am,
and if one stands there, by themselves, the ghost grabs on to the person. “When
I sat there, I was in shock. But nothing happened except for my friends making
creepy sounds and mocking me,” says Joash.
Winston
Miranda, from South Goa, once played a prank that really got people scared. At
the time, he was the manger of a call centre. “I wanted to do something that
really creeped out the people at work. I loved playing pranks on the girls at
work,” he says. He along with a friend dressed up in white robes and ascended
the stairs, holding candles when the BPO executives finished their night shift
at work. They were in complete shock as they saw the ghosts walk towards them.
When they realised that it was all a prank, they all heaved a sigh of relief.
Another interesting story is that of Marsha Pimenta, from Raia. “There is a
run-down house in our locality. People in the village say that two brothers
killed themselves here and thus the place is haunted,” says Marsha. She and her
friends once went to explore the place and claim that they are sure that they
heard voices of people weeping. “I know it sounds funny, but my friends and I heard
these voices as if in pain and asking for help. We ran out of the house as fast
as we could,” she concludes.
