Kali Puja

Kali Puja is held on the night of the New Moon in the Bengali month of Kartik. It is said that Maharaja Krishnan Chandra of Nawadweep gave an order that everyone, in his domain should worship Kali. According to popular narrative the present form of the image of Kali, is due to a dream. The festival of Kali Puja is an ancient one in the eastern part of India. Kali Puja coincides with Diwali, the North Indian New Year, the festivals of lights. Goddess Kali appears in various forms as an embodiment of Shakti, the eternal energy and cosmic power. She is also the Goddess of Tantrism or the Indian Black Magic. . Using the powerful imagery of paintings, sculptures, and writings, the celebration of Kali Puja explores and illumines the rich meanings of feminine divinity. Legend has it that Ma Kali was the Goddess of dacoits. But Ma Kali is also seen as the Goddess of the common man, the middle-class or the daily wage earner. The image of Kali usually shows her foot on Lord Shiva’s chest, a severed head in one hand, her sword in the other, and wearing a garland of skulls. The actual puja takes place at midnight on the day of the new moon. The main purpose of the kali puja is to seek the help of the goddess in destroying evil – both in the outside world and within us. Kali Puja is done to diminish the ego and all negative tendencies that hinder spiritual progress and material prosperity. The rituals of Kali puja are simple. Elaborate cooking or preparation is not needed to satisfy Ma Kali. Even ‘soma ras’ or pure wine is offered as a ‘bhog’ to Ma Kali. The main puja starts at midnight and stretches till dawn. Ma Kali is worshiped amidst the bursting of crackers and display of fireworks. Another narrative depicts Kali as an aborigine goddess worshipped by the Austric tribals and was gradually incorporated into the Brahminical pantheon. Kali Puja is also known as Shyama Puja or Mahanisha Puja at some places. During the time of Sri Chaitanya there was fierce competition between the ‘Shaktos’ viz. Kali worshipers and the ‘Vaishnavs’ viz. Krishna worshipers in eastern and north Eastern India. Kali Puja gained popularity in the 19th century Bengal and Assam, with the Bengali/ Assamese elite and wealthy landowners began patronizing the festival on a grand scale.