The House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths is a documentary series by Netflix that delves into the chilling and mysterious deaths of 11 members of a family from Burari, a locality in Delhi, India, in June 2018. This incident became one of the most talked-about cases in India, and the documentary explores the circumstances surrounding it, the investigation, and the impact it had on the community . Whole documentary is divided into three parts “11 Bodies”,”11 Diaries”, and “Beyond 11. Here is the detailed explanation of this documentry . created by Leena Yadav and Anubhav Chopra
Table of Contents
Episode 1: 11 Bodies
The first episode of “House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths” plunges viewers into the heart of a chilling mystery. It begins with the discovery of eleven lifeless bodies within a single family the Chundawat family, also known as the Bhatia family lived in Burari, Delhi in a three story building . The family had a grocery shop and plywood business in the area. The initial shock and bewilderment quickly give way to a sense of dread as the details of the bizarre deaths unfold.
The episode carefully documents the crime scene, showcasing the unusual positions of the bodies. Ten members of the family were found hanging from a mesh in their ceiling in the hallway, all close together while the eleventh was strangled. The scene was eerily orchestrated, with the bodies arranged in a specific manner, their faces covered, and their mouths taped. The police investigation is launched, and the public is left perplexed by the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths.
As the investigation unfolds, the episode highlights the initial theories and speculations surrounding the case. Some suggested a possible cult involvement, while others pointed to a potential murder-suicide. However, the lack of any obvious signs of struggle or external interference perplexed the investigators. The episode concludes with the discovery of eleven diaries within the house, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the family’s beliefs and practices.
Episode 2: 11 Diaries
The second episode of House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths delves into the enigmatic world of the eleven diaries found within the Burari home. These diaries, meticulously maintained over eleven years, contained detailed instructions for a complex ritual that the family believed would lead to salvation. These instructions were given by Lalit who told his family that the soul of his father had entered in his body and wants them to follow these instructions. The diaries provided step-by-step guidance, including specific positions, preparations, and timing for the ritual.
The episode explores the family’s deep-rooted spiritual beliefs and their adherence to traditional practices. The diaries reveal a shared delusion among the family members, who believed they were being possessed by spirit of Lalit’s Chundawat’s father Bhopal Singh and that the ritual was necessary to liberate themselves. The episode examines the reasons or psychological factors that may have contributed to the family’s shared delusion, such as groupthink, obedience to authority, and the power of suggestion.
The diaries also shed light on the family’s increasing isolation from the outside world. Their withdrawal from social interactions and their focus on their spiritual practices may have increase their beliefs and made them more susceptible to such delusions. The episode concludes with a chilling revelation that how the family had been religiously following the instructions in the diaries, leading to the tragic outcome.
Episode 3: Beyond 11
The final episode of “House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths” delves deeper into the psychological and spiritual factors that may have led to the tragedy. The series emphasizes the shared delusion among the family members, where they believed they were being possessed by spirits and that the ritualistic practices described in the diaries were necessary for their salvation.
The diaries played a crucial role in guiding the family’s actions, providing detailed instructions for the ritual. The family members were deeply invested in the contents of the diaries, believing them to be a divine source of guidance. The lack of external influences and perspectives allowed their beliefs to solidify and become increasingly distorted.
The episode explores various psychological factors, such as groupthink, obedience to authority, and the power of suggestion, that may have influenced the family’s behavior. Additionally, the family’s deep-rooted spiritual beliefs and practices played a significant role in shaping their worldview and their understanding of the world around them.
The final episode concludes of House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths with a somber reflection on the tragedy, highlighting the importance of mental health awareness and the dangers of unchecked beliefs. It serves as a reminder of the psychological impact of religious beliefs and practices, and the potential for such beliefs to lead to extreme and tragic consequences.