Kali Temple

After Durga Puja, Kali puja is another festivals that Kolkatans love. Kali puja is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm on the night of the new moon in the Bengali month of Kartik. According to the Gregorian calendar, it falls in the month of October or November, but always on a new moon.

Kali, the Goddess of destruction, has enjoyed a significant presence in the Hindu culture as the epitome of ‘shakti’ or cosmic power. She is the fearless goddess, with a severed head on one hand and a sword on the other, a garland of skulls around her neck and one foot on her husband’s chest. She is the protector of all evils and the source of all eternal energies.

While most deities are worshipped during the day, Kali puja takes place at night. On that day, many people stay up all night offering pujas and celebrating the victory of good over evil. Kali Puja is a festival of lights in which people decorate their house with candles and diyas of different colours. Kali Puja in Bengal coincides with Diwali, the festivals of lights, very popular in North India. One cleans their house and decorates them it lights, diyas and candles.

Quite a number of community Kali pujas are organised by clubs in different parts of Kolkata. Such pujas continue for a couple of days and are celebrated with as much fanfare, pomp and grandeur as Durga Puja. That night, the sky is illuminated by fireworks and crackers. There is a festive mood all around.

In recent times, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board has come down heavily on the manufacture and sale of noisy firecrackers to check sound pollution. A ban has been imposed on all fireworks crossing the 65 decibel limit, which results in heavy penalty if ignored.

Kali Puja is followed by ‘Bhatridwitiya’ or ‘Bhai Phonta’ in Bengal. This is a traditional ritual in which sisters pray for the well-being and long life of their brothers. Gifts and sweets are exchanged and there is a general mood of happiness in the air.