Religious festival Kali Puja of Bengali Hindus

This article is on Kali Puja, the religious festival of Bengalis.

Kali Puja is a famous festival in West Bengal. Kali Puja date in West Bengal coincides with the Diwali of other states of India. On Diwali, people of other states perform Lakshmi Puja and in West Bengal, Orrisa and Assam Puja of Goddess Kali is performed.

Kali Puja is performed in many homes and clubs. Durga Puja and Kali Puja are the two main religious festivals of West Bengal. Kali Puja in Kalighat, Tarapith are worth seeing. Many people gathers in those locations during Kali Puja. Normally Kali starts at mid night and in many Pujas animals are sacrificed and offered to Goddess Kali. Kali Pujas are also held in cremation grounds of Hindus.

Kali Puja is also known as Dipanwita Kali Puja. This is a festival of lights. Kali Puja is normally celebrated on the new moon day of Aswin or Kartik month of Bengali calendar. Ratanti and Phalaharini Kali Puja are celebrated on the new moon days of Magh and Jaistha months of Bengali calendar.

Goddess Kali is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess Durga. Among the different Hindu Goddess Maa Kali is associated very closely with Bengali lives. Temple of Goddess Kali is found every where in the World. In every house of Hindu Bengalis, there will be at least one photo of Maa Kali. Famous Bengali saints like Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramaprasad, Bama Khepa, Swami Vivekananda, all were devotees of Goddess Kali.