While the rest of India worships Lakshmi Puja on day of Diwali, the Bengalis, Odias, Assamese and Maithils adore goddess Kali.
The male members of the puja committee and the locality prepare 'prasad and bhog' (food) for the deity besides undertaking other tasks. (Representational Image | Soumyabrata Gupta)- Close up of a community Kali Puja. (Photo: Avik Boral)
- A community puja in North Kolkata. (Photo: Soumyabrata Gupta)
- Gearing up for the Kali Puja. An artisan can be seen decking up a huge idol of the goddess before the commencement of the puja. (Photo: Avik Boral)
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee worships Goddess Kali at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata. (Photo: AP)
- Diya for Bhartiya Sena #ekdiyajawankenaam. Remembering the soldiers at the borders during Diwali. (Photo: Sushma Tiwari)
- Invoking the Goddess through worship of fire. The 150 year old puja in Balarampur, Burdwan was started by the late Guru Charan Pal, the erstwhile zamindar of the area. The puja, done in the traditional manner sees animal sacrifices as well. The house owns four large ponds of which the ritualistic bathing of the ritual earthen pot takes place from water from the largest pond. (Photo: Apratim Pal)
- A small community puja organised by a group of friends in North Kolkata. (Photo: Reetam Baral)
- A community puja in Kolkata showing a palatial marquee housing the idols of the gods decked in fineries. (Photo: Soumyadeep Choudhuri)
- Another popular community puja in Shakespeare Sarani, the idol is surrounded by other deities. (Photo: Vedanta R Manchanda)
- One of the more popular pujas in North Kolkata, the huge idol is decked in gold and silver that are given by devotees. Popularly known as Fatakeshto Kali Puja, the Naba Yuvak Sangha's puja entered their 60th year. The photo perfectly captures the moment when devotion and art come into play as a cameraman can be seen lurking in the frame while others are immersed in the rituals. (Photo: Soumyadeep Choudhuri)
- The 150 year old puja in Balarampur, Burdwan was started by the late Guru Charan Pal, the erstwhile zamindar of the area. The puja, done in the traditional manner sees animal sacrifices as well. The house owns four large ponds of which the ritualistic bathing of the ritual earthen pot takes place from water from the largest pond. (Photo: Apratim Pal)
- A community Kali Puja, where the idol is painted in black and white. (Photo: Rabin Gupta)
- A home in Kolkata light lamps on the eve of Diwali. (Photo: Arunava Basu)
Kali Puja was practically unknown before the 18th century; however, a late 17th-century devotional text Kalika mangalkavya –by Balram mentions an annual festival dedicated to Kali. It was introduced in Bengal during the 18th century, by King (Raja) Krishnachandra of Navadvipa. (Photo: Soumyabrata Gupta)
While the rest of India worships Lakshmi Puja on day of Diwali, the Bengalis, Odias, Assamese and Maithils adore goddess Kali.
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