https://indianpedia.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=14.0.180.8IndianPedia - User contributions [en]2026-07-30T07:12:02ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kali_Puja&diff=547263Kali Puja2025-12-20T07:05:47Z<p>14.0.180.8: </p>
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<div>{{Short description|Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Kali}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox holiday<br />
| holiday_name = Kali Puja<br />
| image = File:Kali Shakespeare Sarani Arnab Dutta 2010.JPG<br />
| caption = Goddess Kali<br />
| nickname = <br />
| observedby = [[Hindu]]s<br />
| date = Ashwayuja 30 ([[Hindu calendar#Amanta|Amanta]]) <br /> Karthika 15 ([[Hindu calendar#Purnimanta|Purnimanta]])<br />
| observances = [[Puja (Hinduism)|Puja]], [[prasada]]m<br />
| celebrations = [[Fireworks]]<br />
| type = Hinduism<br />
| longtype = Hinduism<br />
| significance = <br />
| date2025 = 20 October<br />
| date2026 = 8 November <br />
| date2027 = 29 October <br />
| date2028 = 17 October<br />
| frequency = Every year<br />
<br />
}}<br />
'''Kali Puja''' (<!--Do not add Indic scripts per WP:INDICSCRIPT-->[[ISO 15919|ISO]]: {{transliteration|sa|ISO|Kālī Pūjā}}), also known as '''Shyama Puja''' or '''Mahanisha Puja''',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diwalifestival.org/regional-names-diwali.html |title=Diwali |access-date=30 October 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130123128/http://www.diwalifestival.org/regional-names-diwali.html |url-status=live }}</ref> is a festival originating from the [[Indian subcontinent]], dedicated to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] goddess [[Kali]]. It is celebrated on the new moon day (Dipannita Amavasya) of the [[Hindu calendar]] month of [[Ashwayuja]] (according to the [[Hindu calendar#amanta|amanta]] tradition) or [[Kārtika (month)|Kartika]] (according to the [[Hindu calendar#purnimanta|purnimanta]] tradition). The festival is especially popular in the regions of [[Barasat]], [[Naihati]], [[Kolkata]], [[Basirhat]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=৬০০ বছরের পুরনো সংগ্রামপুর কালীপুজো! কীভাবে শুরু হয়েছিল এই পুজো? জেনে নিন ইতিহাস |url=https://bengali.news18.com/news/south-bengal/600-years-old-basirhat-sangrampur-kali-puja-history-how-this-puja-started-know-the-story-l18-local18-2385937.html |work=News18 Bangla |publisher=Network18 |language=bn |access-date=21 October 2025}}</ref> and [[Tamluk]] in [[West Bengal]], [[Bhagalpur]]<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://hindi.news18.com/news/bihar/bhagalpur-dharma-grand-maa-kali-immersion-continues-for-36-hours-in-bhagalpur-central-government-also-keeps-eye-on-it-local18-8811084.html}}</ref> in [[Bihar]]'s [[Anga]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kali Puja 2025 Date: कब है काली पूजा? देखें कालीबाड़ी का शुभ मुहूर्त; यहां सोने के आभूषण से सजती हैं मां काली - kali puja 2025 date kali puja 2025 kab hai when is kali puja 2025 kali puja 2025 date timing rituals and subh muhurat |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/bhagalpur-kali-puja-2025-date-kali-puja-2025-kab-hai-when-is-kali-puja-2025-kali-puja-2025-date-timing-rituals-and-subh-muhurat-40010876.html}}</ref> and other places like <br />
[[Jharkhand]], [[Odisha]], [[Assam]], and [[Tripura]]. Along with the neighbouring country of [[Bangladesh]].<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Descriptions of Kali in Sanskrit texts from the late medieval period point to her growing popularity alongside other goddesses.{{sfn|McDermott|2001|p=166}} She appears in the vernacular genre of ''[[mangalkavya]]'' in the 17th century, and the ''Kalikamangalkavya'' describes worship to Kali.{{sfn|McDermott|2001|p=166, 172}}<br />
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Kali Puja is a major festival in West Bengal.{{sfn|McDaniel|2004|p=223}} Kali Puja became widespread in the eighteenth century through patrons.{{sfn|McDermott|2001|p=173}} In Bengal during the 18th century, King Krishnachandra of [[Nadia district|Nadia]] also made this puja wide spread.<ref name="MK72">{{harvnb|McDermott|Kripal|2003|p=72}}</ref> Kali Puja saw a surge in popularity in the 19th century, coinciding with the rise in prominence of the Kali devotee Sri Ramakrishna among Bengalis. This period marked a significant shift, as affluent landowners began to sponsor the festival extensively, leading to grander and more elaborate celebrations.{{sfn|McDermott|2001|p=173}}<br />
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== Significance ==<br />
Kali Puja is a reminder for devotees that they depend on Kali, who can be either compassionate or wrathful, and thus their life is fragile.{{sfn|McDaniel|2004|p=250}}<br />
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==Worship in Bengal==<br />
[[File:Artisan making an idol of goddess Kali, kumortuli, 2017.jpg|thumb|[[Artisan]] making an idol of goddess Kali at [[Kumortuli]], [[Kolkata]]]]<br />
[[File:Goddesses kali mata.jpg|thumb|Kali Puja celebration at amherst street in Kolkata]]Kali Puja takes place on the same night as [[Diwali]].{{sfn|McDaniel|2004|p=252}}<br />
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During Kali Puja worshippers honor the goddess Kali in their homes in the form of clay [[Murti|sculptures]] and in [[Pandal|''pandals'']] (temporary shrines or open pavilions). She is worshipped at night with [[Tantra|tantric]] rites and [[mantra]]s. She is prescribed offerings of red [[hibiscus]] flowers, sweets, rice, and lentils. It is prescribed that a worshipper should meditate throughout the night until dawn.{{sfn|McDaniel|2004|p=234}} Homes and ''pandals'' may also practice rites in the ''[[Brahmanical]]'' (mainstream Hindu-style, non-Tantric) tradition with ritual dressing of Kali in her form as Adya Shakti Kali and no animals are sacrificed. She is offered food and sweets made of rice, lentils, and fruits.{{sfn|McDaniel|2004|pp=249-250, 254}}<br />
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However, in Tantric tradition, animals are [[Animal sacrifice in Hinduism|ritually sacrificed]] on Kali Puja day and offered to the goddess.<ref name="MK72" /> A celebration of Kali Puja in [[Kolkata]] is held in a large [[Shmashana|cremation ground]]<ref name="f86">{{harvnb|Fuller|2004|p=86}}.</ref> (Kali is believed to dwell in cremation grounds).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Crooke |first1=William |author-link=William Crooke |title=Death; Death Rites; Methods of Disposal of the Dead among the Dravidian and Other Non-Aryan Tribes of India |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40442412 |journal=Anthropos |date=1909 |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=457–476 |jstor=40442412}}</ref> [[Barasat]]-[[Madhyamgram]], [[Tamluk]], [[Ranaghat]], [[Barrackpore]], [[Naihati]], [[Basirhat]], areas of South Bengal and [[Siliguri]], [[Dhupguri]], [[Dinhata]], [[Coochbehar]] area of North Bengal is well known for their majestic pandals, lightings and Idols. Meanwhile Barasat's Kali Puja celebration is the largest in the entire West Bengal. 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''.<br />
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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 [[Mahavidya]]s, sometimes considered as the "ten Kalis." The Mahavidyas is a group of ten Tantric goddesses headed by Kali.{{sfn|Kinsley|1997|p=18}} People visit these ''pandals'' throughout the night. Kali Puja is also the time for magic shows, theater, and fireworks.<ref name = "MCDa">{{harvnb|McDaniel|2004|pp=249–50, 54}}.</ref> Recent custom has incorporated wine consumption.{{sfn|Harding|1998|p=134}}<br />
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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.<ref name="MK72" /><ref name="f86" /> Another famous temple dedicated to Kali in Kolkata is [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple]], where Sri Rāmakrishna performed rites.{{efn|See {{harvnb|Harding|1998|pp=125–6}} for a detailed account of the rituals in Dakshineshwar.}}<br />
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==Kali Puja in Bhagalpur==<br />
Kali Puja is a significant festival in the [[Anga]] region of [[Bihar]], particularly in [[Bhagalpur]]. It is also celebrated in other regions of Bihar like [[Munger]], [[Katihar]] and [[Purnea]].<br />
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[[File:Kali Puja in Bhagalpur (Parbatti).jpg|thumb|Parbatti Budhiya Kali]]<br />
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Bhagalpur's Kali Puja is a cultural vibrance with hundreds of Kali Puja Pandals throughout the district. Bhagalpur city has grand celebrations decked up with lights and pandals and a fervulent procession (which resembles the Carnival). The procession is not a new trend here, but a tradition that is followed as trend these days by many. After the puja, around 80-90 idols decks up in a line starting from the Station chowk to Kali visarjan ghat, and the procession with tableau from different puja committees, vibrant Aarti and lightings makes the city joyous and at the same time emotional.<br />
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[[File:Kali Puja in Bhagalpur.jpg|thumb|Bhagalpur Kali Puja (Champanagar)]]<br />
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The traditional procession has completed its 71years in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=भागलपुर की सड़कों पर सवार हैं मां काली, दशकों की अद्भुत परंपरा, रस्सी से खींचते हैं रथ - Kali Puja Bhagalpur Immersion of idols of Maa Kal wonderful tradition pulls chariots with rope |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/bhagalpur-kali-puja-bhagalpur-immersion-of-idols-of-maa-kal-wonderful-tradition-pulls-chariots-with-rope-23166177.html}}</ref> But, it is not the only procession, another procession with around 35-40 idols are taken from the Nathnagar area to Champa nadi ghat. Nonetheless, Bihpur of Bhagalpur has its own grand visarjan with 22 feet idols taken on the shoulders. The Bengali communities and Bari (Private) pujas do their ritual processions earlier than the bigger ones.<br />
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[[File:Bama Kali, Babalpur, Bhagalpur.jpg|thumb|32feet Bama Kali of Bahbalpur, Bhagalpur]]<br />
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The largest traditional idol of Bhagalpur is of Bahbalpur Puja committee<ref>{{Cite web|title=सूबे की सबसे बड़ी 32 फीट की बमकाली बहबलपुर में होती है स्थापित |date=26 October 2024 |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/bhagalpur/story-massive-32-foot-kali-idol-installed-in-nathnagar-bihar-a-400-year-tradition-201729890198086.html}}</ref> which is around 32feet. Other big Kali idols include Parbatti Budhiya Kali (22feet), Maheshpur Badi Kali(25feet), Jarlahi (25 feet), Budhanath's Bama Kali (21 feet), etc.<br />
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==Other celebrations==<br />
[[File:Kalighater Kali.JPG|thumb|A Kali Puja pandal with a replica of the [[Kalighat Kali Temple]] icon.]]<br />
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 [[Kartika (month)|Kartika]], Kali is also worshipped in other new moon days too. Three other major Kali Puja observations are ''Ratanti Kali Puja'', ''Phalaharini Kali Puja'' and ''Kaushiki Amavasya Kali Puja''. Kaushiki amavasya Kali Puja is greatly associated with the goddess Tara of Tarapith as it is considered the day when Devi Tara appeared on earth and blessed sadhak [[Bamakhepa]], also according to the legends on this day the doors of both the "Naraka" and the "swarga" open for some time, while Ratanti puja is celebrated on [[Magha (month)|Magha]] Krishna Chaturdashi and Phalaharini puja is celebrated on [[Jyeshta]] Amavashya of Bengali calendar. The ''Phalaharini Kali Puja'' is especially important in the life of the saint [[Ramakrishna]] and his wife [[Sarada Devi]], since on this day in 1872, Ramakrishna worshipped Sarada Devi as the goddess [[Shodashi]].{{sfn|Gambhirananda|1955|pp=48–51}} In many Bengali and Assamese households, Kali is worshipped daily.{{sfn|Banerjee|1991|p=114}}<br />
[[File:Garha fatak(Jabalpur) Mahakali during dussehra chal samaroh.png|thumb|Garha fatak [[Jabalpur]] Mahakali idol(of Navratri) during dussehra chal samaroh]]<br />
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==Shyama Sangeet ==<br />
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Generally all music dedicated to goddess Mother [[Kali]] is called '[[Shyama Sangeet]]' in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]. Two famous singers of this Bengali Shyama Sangeet are [[Pannalal Bhattacharya]] and [[Dhananjay Bhattacharya]]. Pannalal Bhattacharya's elder brother Prafulla Bhattacharya and middle brother [[Dhananjay Bhattacharya]] were the first music teachers of saint artist [[Pannalal Bhattacharya]]. [[Dhananjay Bhattacharya]] stopped singing devotional songs after finding devotional spirit in his brother Pannalal. However, after the demise of [[Pannalal Bhattacharya]], he contributed again in [[Bengali music]] with many devotional songs by his sweet, melodious voice.<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
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==References==<br />
===Citations===<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
...<br />
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===Works cited===<br />
* {{cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Suresh Chandra |title=Shaktiranga Bangabhumi |trans-title=Bengal, The Abode of Shaktism |edition=1st |year=1991 |publisher=Ananda Publishers Pvt Ltd |location=Kolkata |language=bn |isbn=81-7215-022-9}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Fuller |first=Christopher John |year=2004 |title=The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-12048-5}}<br />
* {{cite book |last1=Gambhirananda |first1=Swami |title=Holy Mother Shri Sarada Devi |edition=1st |year=1955 |publisher=Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama |location=Madras}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Harding |first=Elizabeth U. |year=1998 |title=Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar |place=India |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=978-81-208-1450-9}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Kinsley |first=David R. |year=1997 |title=Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-91772-9}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=McDaniel |first=June |year=2004 |title=Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-534713-5}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=McDermott |first=Rachel Fell |year=2001 |title=Mother of My Heart, Daughter of My Dreams: Kali and Uma in the Devotional Poetry of Bengal |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-803071-3}}<br />
* {{cite book |last1=McDermott |first1=Rachel Fell |last2=Kripal |first2=Jeffrey John |title=Encountering Kali: In the Margins, at the Center, in the West |year=2003 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-23240-2}}<br />
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==Further reading==<br />
* {{cite book |last=McDermott |first=Rachel Fell |year=2011 |title=Revelry, Rivalry, and Longing for the Goddesses of Bengal: The Fortunes of Hindu Festivals |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-12919-0}}<br />
* {{cite book |translator-last=Saraswati |translator-first=Swami Satyananda |year=1999 |title=Kali Puja |publisher=1st World Publishing |isbn=1-887472-64-9}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* {{Commons category-inline}}<br />
* [https://www.bengalifestivalstimedate.club/2018/10/kali-puja-2019-time-and-date-diwali.html Kali Puja] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412092414/https://www.bengalifestivalstimedate.club/2018/10/kali-puja-2019-time-and-date-diwali.html |date=12 April 2019 }} celebrated in India and Bangladesh<br />
<br />
{{Tourist attractions in Kolkata}}<br />
{{Hindu festivals}}<br />
{{Bengali Hindu people}}<br />
{{Culture of West Bengal}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]<br />
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]<br />
[[Category:Festivals in West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Festivals in Odisha]]<br />
[[Category:Shaktism]]<br />
[[Category:October observances]]<br />
[[Category:November observances]]<br />
[[Category:Kali]]<br />
[[Category:Public holidays in Bangladesh]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu festivals in Bangladesh]]</div>14.0.180.8