Paranormal Activity refers to them beyond the range of normal experience of or about the events or perceptions occurring without any scientific explanation. It is merely an extrasensory perception. It is used to describe a variety of activities and phenomena. It is also referred to as the phenomenon that in one or more prospects exceeds the limit of what is physically impossible according to scientific assumptions. Recent surveys have shown that a significant portion of the population believes in ghosts, leading some scholars to conclude that we are witnessing a revival of paranormal beliefs in Western society.
Recent research has shown that people who espouse paranormal and conspiratorial beliefs are much more susceptible to the conjunction-fallacy. For example, consider the fact that people often endorse multiple (or contradictory) conspiracy theories about the same event, where belief in one conspiracy serves as evidence for belief in another. Yet, the likelihood that two (or many) different conspiratorial explanations about world events are all true at the same time is increasingly unlikely. Similarly, belief in one paranormal phenomenon might quickly lead to the belief that many “magical” things are happening (it can’t merely be coincidence).
Recent survey data show that belief in the paranormal – including aliens, ghosts, telepathy, mind reading, and unlucky numbers – is widespread in India. Given the ubiquitous nature of paranormal beliefs in society, insight into why individuals believe in the paranormal is surprisingly limited. Although the few studies that do exist on this topic show that paranormal beliefs vary somewhat by race/ethnicity, gender, and social class, few studies have applied a rigorous test of theory to quantitatively understand why individuals believe in the paranormal. To address this key gap in research, we use an original dataset and apply the theory of self-control to the understanding of paranormal beliefs. Overall, the data demonstrate that the majority of respondents in our sample report belief in at least one paranormal phenomenon. Multivariate analyses show that individuals with lower levels of self-control report significantly greater belief in the paranormal than those with higher self-control, even after controlling for a range of variables. The characteristics of low self-control – a tendency to choose immediately gratifying courses of action while ignoring long-term consequences – may predispose people to endorse high levels of paranormal beliefs.
Many may dismiss the existence of spirits but those who have experienced it, cannot help but believe that there is, in fact, something beyond the realm of our understanding. India, like every other place, has its fair share of haunted places from Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, where no one is allowed to go in after sunset, to Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad where spirits haunt women more than men, from Kuldhara, the abandoned village of Rajasthan, to the royal palace of Shaniwar Wada in Pune, where cries of an assassinated prince are heard at night, all these places have a spooky tale to tell.
Here are some of the most haunted places in India. Get ready to be spooked!
1. Kuldhara Village
The village that is today maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, Kuldhara’s story is quite well known. A quaint village that looks spectacular in the day turns into your worst nightmare at night. The story of why this happened is equally chilling. It is an abandoned village over 200 years old but you can find houses and temples in near-perfect condition even today. What led to this abandonment?
About 200 years ago, on a fateful night, the villagers of Kuldhara who belonged to the Paliwal Brahmins community, fled from their homes, leaving behind their land and property. If you are wondering what forced an entire village to do so, here’s the reason: The story involves a brutal prime minister, Salim Singh, who was rumoured to be even more powerful than the local king he served. Salim Singh (who was also called Zalim Singh for the brutalities he committed) was also infamous for debauchery. His tax collection methods were not fair and citizens were fed up with his ways. One fine day, the roving eye of Salim Singh fell on the beautiful daughter of Kundhara’s village chief. So mesmerised was he with her beauty that he declared his intentions to marry her! The Paliwal Brahmins were horrified by the proposal but were no match for the powerful prime minister who, by now, had threatened to levy heavier taxes on the villagers. Not having much of a choice, the villagers decided to pack their belongings and leave the village overnight.
To this day, no one really knows where the villagers went and settled after fleeing from Kuldhara.
2. Mukesh Mills Mumbai
Mukesh Mills is a popular location for TV serials and Bollywood films. Located in Mumbai’s tony Colaba area Mukesh Mills takes you back in time with its dilapidated structure and warehouse-like look. But the rundown structure is sure to send shivers down your spine not just with its interiors but because people who have worked here have had some unusual experiences here.
Mukesh Mills was once a thriving mill when it opened its doors in the 1870s. Its location right next to the Arabian Sea made it apt for ships to dock here for loading and unloading of cotton and yarn. The mill, however, went out of business in the 1980s when the workers struck work. The mill was later shut and then an unexplained fire broke out in Mukesh Mills which left it in the condition it now is.
But it seems like Mukesh Mills is as popular among the spirit world as it is in Bollywood. According to crew members and even actors who have worked here, there is something spooky about this location, so much so that shoots to wrap up before sunset as no one wants to be here late at night. People have allegedly heard strange voices, things are reported lost and on one or two occasions, people suddenly seem to get possessed. These occurrences have been reasons enough to avoid shooting here at night.
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