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Kali Puja also known as Shyama Puja is a festival originating from the Indian subcontinent, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. It is celebrated on the new moon day or Amavasya The festival is especially popular in the region of West Bengal, and other places like Mithila and many places of Bihar Odisha, Assam, and Tripura, as well as the town of Titwala in Maharashtra, along with the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.

The festival of Kali Puja is not an ancient one. Kali Puja was practically unknown before the 16th century; famous sage Krishnananda first initiated Kali Puja. In Bengal during the 18th century, King Krishnachandra of Nabadwip also made this puja wide spread. Kali Puja gained popularity in the 19th century, when kali saint Shri Ramkrishna became popular among the Bengalis ; Along with Durga Puja, Kali Puja is the biggest festival in Tamluk, Barasat, Naihati, Barrackpore, Dhupguri, Dinhata, Tapshitala. It is also famous in Bhagalpur of Bihar.

Artisan making an idol of goddess Kali at Kumortuli, Kolkata.

During Kali Puja like Durga Puja worshippers honour the goddess Kali in their homes as well as in pandals, She is worshipped at night with tantric rites and mantras. She is prescribed offerings of red hibiscus flowers, sweets, rice and lentils. It is prescribed that a worshipper should meditate throughout the night until dawn. She is offered food and sweets made of rice, lentils, and fruits. However, in Tantric tradition, animals are ritually sacrificed on Kali Puja day and offered to the goddess. A celebration of Kali Puja in Kolkata is held in Barasat, Barrackpore, Naihati and Madhyamgram region of North 24 Parganas, In North Bengal, Dhupguri, Dinhata, Coochbehar is well known for their majestic pandals, lightings and Idols. Durga Puja of Kolkata is often said synonymously with Kali Puja of Barasat. The region experiences Lacs of footfalls during the days of the festival. People from different regions gather to witness the majestic Pandals.

Two famous Bengali Kali devotees named Ramakrishna and Bamakhepa are famous for Maa Kali Puja.

People visit these pandals throughout the night. Kali Puja is also the time for magic shows, theater, and fireworks

In the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, Kali is worshipped as Lakshmi on this day.

Another famous temple dedicated to Kali in Kolkata is Dakshineswar Kali Temple, where Sri Rāmakrishna performed rites. Khepa kali tala (Khepi Maa) in Katwa is renowned.

Idol of goddess Kali’s immersion is done in the waters of river Hooghly

A child bursting firecracker in Bengal during Kali Puja

Although the widely popular annual Kali Puja celebration, also known as the Dipanwita Kali Puja. It is celebrated on the new moon day of the month of Kartika, Kali is also worshipped in other new moon days too. Three other major Kali Puja observations are Ratanti Kali Puja, Phalaharini Kali Puja and Kaushiki amavasya Kali Puja. Kaushiki amavasya Kali Puja is greatly associated with Goddess Tara of Tarapith as it is considered the day when Devi Tara appeared on earth and blessed sadhak Bamakhepa ,

According to the legends on this day the Doors of both the “Naraka” and the “swarga” are kept open for some time, while Ratanti puja is celebrated on Magha Krishna Chaturdashi and Phalaharini puja is celebrated on Jyeshta Amavashya of Bengali calendar.

The Phalaharini Kali Puja is especially important in the life of the saint Ramakrishna and his wife Sarada Devi, since on this day in 1872, Ramakrishna worshipped Sarada Devi as the goddess Kali.