Why she-ghosts steal fish on Kali Puja

On the eve of Kali Puja, a festival akin to Dhanteras, female spirits return to their earthly homes. They are drawn to the tantalizing aromas of freshly fried fish and rich desserts, which they are said to stealthily pilfer. In a society that stifled women's desires, these female ghosts embody the unfulfilled aspirations of married women, mothers, and daughters.

The petni, a spirit of an unmarried woman, longs for the freedom to enjoy her favorite dish, pabda curry. The shakchunni, the spirit of a married woman, misses the domestic comfort of her kitchen, where she once cooked her beloved luchi, aloo posto, and payesh. These supernatural beings challenge the notion that women should be meek and accommodating, instead embodying a longing for personal fulfillment.

Their presence in children's tales serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of disregarding the unspoken desires of women.