What happens if you wake up at night and the sky glows with a mysterious light hovering over your head, you have never seen before. Probably, you would get scared, I would be, for sure. I am not talking about the Northern Lights here. We have the same phenomenon that happens here, in West Bengal, India, that is called The Aleya Ghost Lights.
You must have never heard about it as it is not a subject of entertainment but rather as eerie in the area where it happens.
What is Aleya Ghost Lights
Aleya Ghost Lights is a mysterious natural phenomenon that appears in Sundarban, one of the biggest wetlands of the world, especially in the region of West Bengal, India. They are often described as the spirits of fishermen who died in the region. These glowing sphere lights appear at night, hovering over distant empty forest areas and creating eerie among the locals and curiosity as well.
Location of Aleya lights
- The Aleya lights look like floating balls, flashing and glowing here and there in the midnight sky. These lights are mainly seen in the Sundarban wetlands, Ganges delta in West Bengal, full of mangrove forests.
Why is it called Ghost light
- According to local folklore, the origins of the Aleya Ghost lights are the souls of fishermen who died in the area while fishing. Sunderban is a part of biodiversity and a paradise for fishermen. Deep in the forest, they catch a variety of fishes and crabs and often hunt by the Royal Bengal tiger. They say the soul searches their way back to their homes. Thus, it illuminates the sky.
What Science says
- As the Sundarbans is an area of biodiversities and a large number of species, it also contains a large number of bacteria or fungi, that glow in certain temperatures and conditions, just like Gokarna, Karnataka. It's called the Bioluminescence effect, one of the most credible scientific explanations. Probably, these bacteria release light as a part of their functional activities.
- And the second most likely reason, according to science, is the release of phosphine gas, produced by the decomposition in areas, that release light as well. When phosphine gas ignites, it can create a faint glow, similar to the ghost lights described by witnesses.
What is the Significance and Popularity
Like anything else that is unusual to the eyes attracts attention, The Aleya Ghost Lights have also become an interesting topic in both local culture and tourism. They draw the attention of curious minds to adventure geeks to witness the mysterious phenomenon and discover the truth behind it.
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