Goddess Kali Puja.

Kali Puja is a festival celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and Maharashtra. It is also celebrated in Chittagong, Rangpur and Sylhet division of Bangladesh. Celebrated on the new moon day in the Hindu month of Kartik, Kali Puja venerates Goddess Kali. The festival also coincides with the Lakshmi Puja on the day of Diwali. Kali Puja is celebrated with extreme devotion and reverence to Goddess Kali in the states of West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Bihar in India. It is also observed in some of the divisions of Bangladesh. Large pandals are erected in which clay idol of Goddess Kali is kept. The idols are painted in black to depict Kali. She is also shown wearing a necklace of skulls and her tongue is shown red. The eyes of Goddess Kali, even that in and idol, reflects anger and rage. Some of the devotees even mediate for the whole night until dawn. Offerings like sweets, rice, lentils are made to the Goddess to take her blessings. Red Hibiscus flower is also the prescribed offering to the Goddess Kali. She is worshipped using Tantric mantras and rites. In the tantric form of worship of Goddess Kali, animal sacrifice is made. The non tantric or Brahmanical form of worship is also performed. This type of worship is done as per Hindu style of worship in which no animal sacrifice is made. Kali Puja is a significant Hindu festival which reflects the deep rooted faith of devotees in the Goddess and their belief that Goddess will take the most ferocious form in order to save her disciples and the world from evil. While most of the country observes Lakshmi Puja on Diwali, there are some parts that celebrate Kali Puja with equivalent reverence.

Writer Anshumala Das