Kali Puja

Political analyst Suvrokamal Dutta explains why Bengal’s verdict was both a rejection of the TMC and an endorsement of the BJP, and what it could mean for Mamata Banerjee’s party and the wider opposition alliance

Political analyst Suvrokamal Dutta explains why Bengal’s verdict was both a rejection of the TMC and an endorsement of the BJP, and what it could mean for Mamata Banerjee’s party and the wider opposition alliance

Though Diwali was celebrated with traditional fervour in the city on Wednesday, the renowned Kali Puja was also performed with great devotion by the members of Bengali community.

Kali Puja, also known as Shyama Puja, is a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Kali during Diwali celebrations in India's eastern states. It is celebrated on the new moon night in the month of Kartik. Devotees offer prayers and seek blessings from Maa Kali, who symbolizes empowerment and protection. Kali Puja celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is a unique experience that showcases the vibrant culture and traditions of eastern India.

Power consumption figures indicate a decline in pomp and show during Kali Puja with many organisers shifting focus to the more popular Durga Puja over the past three-four decades.

Maa Kali Puja, also known as Kali Puja, is performed on the Amavasi day of the Aashin month according to the Bengali calendar. It also coincides with Diwali night.

The Bakhrabad puja committee has erected a silver tableau for Kali Puja.It is made up of 1.5 quintals of silver at a cost of Rs one crore.

Police have chalked out elaborate security measures to ensure a violence-free Kali Puja, after a group clash marred Durga Puja in the city.Fifteen people were injured in the incident.

Kali Puja is celebrated on the Amavasya or the no moon night in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). This date of Kali Puja coincides with Diwali or the Festivals of Lights.

Commute in the city has turned excruciatingly painful for Kolkatans with Kali Puja pandals encroaching on roads, thoroughfares, lanes and by-lanes, choking traffic.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday banned the use and sale of firecrackers on Kali Puja to curb pollution amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

CM Mamata Banerjee has set a post-Kali Puja timeframe for re-opening of schools, reports Roshan Gupta. Banerjee’s announcement at an administrative meeting in Uttarkanya on Wednesday came hours before the Centre’s Unlock 5.0 guidelines allowed states to decide on opening of schools after October 15.

A series of festive rituals will unfold over Diwali weekend, among them the nocturnal Kali Puja by the Bengali community. Various pandals that celebrate Durga Puja also host Kali Puja with elaborate rituals followed by bhog prasad meals.

After the first lot of Bengalis settlers in the UK began Durga Puja in the 1960s, which gained popularity not only in Europe and America but other continents as well, non-resident Bengalis in the island nation are now organizing Kali Puja in a big way.

Ahead of Kali Puja, she has been busy decorating her house with lights. “I love decorating my house with lights. Pradeep, candles, electric lamps and all kinds of lamps attract me. I try to buy lights before Kali Puja almost every year. Due to the pandemic, last year, I couldn’t enjoy buying lights from the market," says Juhi

Debchandrima candid spoke about all the mischievous activities she used to do during Kali Puja. “Kali Puja always takes me back to my childhood. It is a very special occasion to me. I have grown up seeing my family arranging puja at our place -decorating the pandal, bringing the idol at home, arranging all minute things for Kali Puja," says the actress.

As the city plunged into Diwali mood from Saturday, the Bengali community in the city is busy with their last-minute preparation of Kali Puja. Most Durga puja committees along with a few cultural associations in the city would worship Maa Kali – the goddess of strength on Monday.

The fate of at least seven Kali Pujas in four neighbourhoods on BB Ganguly Street, where cracks appeared in some of the buildings, is uncertain.

Kolkata Police may enforce the distancing regulations announced before Durga Puja for Kali Puja as well but want the government to issue an SOP that stresses on restrictions on fairs and cultural programmes that are held in certain pockets of the city during the festival. The cops will take a call on the issue and make an announcement only after Lakshmi Puja and Milad-Un-Nabi but there is a consensus that crowding must be avoided at Kali Puja-Diwali to keep the infection at bay.

On the occasion of Kali Puja, several city puja committees have come up with plans to honour women in different ways. At one city puja pandal, only women will perform ‘maha aarti’, while another has decided to include women in idol immersion procession for the first time this year.

The festival of lights has brought Bhadrak a much needed relief from the dark days of deluge, a few weeks back.

The city heads into the Diwali weekend with Saturday's festival of Narak Chaturdashi, ahead of the all-important Lakshmi Puja which falls Sunday.

Several Kali Pujas in Muslim-dominated areas of Kolkata have seen Muslim and Hindu communities coming together to celebrate the festival, showcasing religious harmony and unity. In neighborhoods like Mominpore and Kidderpore, Muslim members have taken on the responsibility of organizing the Kali Puja when Hindus moved away from the area. The aim of these initiatives is to include members of all communities and spread the message of love and unity. Both communities also participate in each other's festivals, such as Hindus celebrating Eid with equal enthusiasm.