Kali Puja
| Kali Puja | |
|---|---|
Hindus | |
| Type | Hinduism |
| Celebrations | Fireworks |
| Observances | Puja, prasadam |
| Date | Ashwayuja 30 (Amanta) Karthika 15 (Purnimanta) |
| 2023 date | 12 November |
| 2024 date | 31 October |
| Frequency | Annual |
Kali Puja (
Ashwayuja (according to the amanta tradition) or Kartika (according to the purnimanta tradition). The festival is especially popular in the region of West Bengal, and other places like Mithila
,
Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura, as well as the town of Titwala in Maharashtra, along with the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.
History
The festival of Kali Puja is not an ancient one. Kali Puja was practically unknown before the 16th century; famous sage
mangalkavya, also mentions an annual festival dedicated to Kali.[2] In Bengal during the 18th century, King (Raja) Krishnachandra of Nabadwip also made this puja wide spread.[3] Kali Puja saw a surge in popularity in the 19th century, coinciding with the rise in prominence of the Kali devotee Shri Ramkrishna among Bengalis. This period marked a significant shift, as affluent landowners began to sponsor the festival extensively, leading to grander and more elaborate celebrations.[4] Along with Durga Puja, Kali Puja is the biggest festival in Tamluk, Barasat,[5] Barrackpore, Naihati, Dhupguri, Dinhata, Tapshitala. It is also famous in Bhagalpur
of Bihar.
Worship
During Kali Puja (like
Coochbehar
is well known for their majestic pandals, lightings and Idols. Durga Puja of Kolkata is often said synonymously with Kali Puja of Barasat. The region experiences Lacs of footfalls during the days of the festival. People from different regions gather to witness the majestic Pandals.
The pandals also house images of Kali's consort, Shiva, two famous Bengali Kali devotees named Ramakrishna and Bamakhepa, along with scenes from mythology of Kali and her various forms, including images of the Mahavidyas, sometimes considered as the "ten Kalis." The Mahavidyas is a group of ten Tantric goddesses headed by Kali.[10] People visit these pandals throughout the night. Kali Puja is also the time for magic shows, theater, and fireworks.[7] Recent custom has incorporated wine consumption.[11]
At Naihati, the goddess Kali is worshipped as Boro Maa(Kali), otherwise known as Boro Kali.[12] Her idol, which is an astounding height of 21 feet, is worshipped with pomp on the night of Diwali. She is adorned with several kilograms of gold and silver jewelry.
In the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, Kali is worshipped as Lakshmi on this day. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees who give offerings to the goddess.[3][8] Another famous temple dedicated to Kali in Kolkata is Dakshineswar Kali Temple, where Sri Rāmakrishna performed rites.[a] Khepa kali tala (Khepi Maa) in Katwa.
Other celebrations
Although the widely popular annual Kali Puja celebration, also known as the Dipanwita Kali Puja, is celebrated on the new moon day of the month of
Notes
- ^ See Harding 1998, pp. 125–6 for a detailed account of the rituals in Dakshineshwar.
References
Citations
- ^ "Diwali". Archived from the original on 30 November 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ McDermott 2001, p. 373.
- ^ a b c McDermott & Kripal 2003, p. 72
- ^ McDermott 2001, p. 173.
- ^ McDaniel 2004, p. 223.
- ^ McDaniel 2004, p. 234.
- ^ a b McDaniel 2004, pp. 249–50, 54.
- ^ a b Fuller 2004, p. 86.
- JSTOR 40442412.
- ^ Kinsley 1997, p. 18.
- ^ Harding 1998, p. 134.
- ^ "Naihati's Boro Maa Kali: Where grandeur meets devotion". The Telegraph. Kolkata. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Gambhirananda 1955, pp. 48–51.
- ^ Banerjee 1991, p. 114.
Works cited
- Banerjee, Suresh Chandra (1991). Shaktiranga Bangabhumi [Bengal, The Abode of Shaktism] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Kolkata: Ananda Publishers Pvt Ltd. ISBN 81-7215-022-9.
- Fuller, Christopher John (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-12048-5.
- Gambhirananda, Swami (1955). Holy Mother Shri Sarada Devi (1st ed.). Madras: Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama.
- Harding, Elizabeth U. (1998). Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar. India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 978-81-208-1450-9.
- Kinsley, David R. (1997). Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-91772-9.
- McDaniel, June (2004). Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-534713-5.
- McDermott, Rachel Fell (2001). Mother of My Heart, Daughter of My Dreams: Kali and Uma in the Devotional Poetry of Bengal. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-803071-3.
- McDermott, Rachel Fell; Kripal, Jeffrey John (2003). Encountering Kali: In the Margins, at the Center, in the West. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-23240-2.
Further reading
- McDermott, Rachel Fell (2011). Revelry, Rivalry, and Longing for the Goddesses of Bengal: The Fortunes of Hindu Festivals. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12919-0.
- Kali Puja. Translated by Saraswati, Swami Satyananda. 1st World Publishing. 1999. ISBN 1-887472-64-9.
External links
Media related to Kali Puja at Wikimedia Commons- Kali Puja Archived 12 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine celebrated in India and Bangladesh
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