Timing of the year : After nineteen days
of the completion of the Durga Puja
After nineteen days of the completion of the Durga Puja, the city
get geared up to celebrate another popular festival, the Kali Puja
Kali is worshipped as the Mother Goddess who protects from evil.
Images of Goddess Kali
The image of Kali is bit frightening and usually shows her with a
severed head in one hand, her sword known as Kharga in the other.
She is seen standing on her foot on Lord Shiva's chest and wearing a
garland of skulls.
The puja actually takes place at midnight on the day of the new
moon. During the Kali Puja all houses are lit up with candles
decorated around the house. During this puja, children and adults
are seen to burst firecrackers and lighting multicouloured
sprinkling crackers. No one seems to sleeps on that night.
The mythology of Kali Puja
Goddess Kali has always enjoyed a significant presence in our
culture. She appears in various forms as an embodiment of Shakti,
the eternal energy and cosmic power. She is also believed to be the
eternal cosmic strength that destroys all existence. Her facial
expressions depict the extent of her powers of destruction. The
heads she holds in her hand instantly arouses mortal-fear in
everybody and her protruding tongue symbolizes the mockery of human
ignorance. She is also the Goddess of Tantrism or the Indian Black
Magic.
According to Mathology Shiva and Kali are the originating couple of
the universe but Kali even mocks Shiva, as if she herself is the
unique source of everything. There are several other Avtars of Kali
also. One such is a striking contrast is Kali represented as the
Benevolent Mother where she is the personification of Eternal Night
of Peace. From the canons of orthodox Hinduism Kali, Durga, Parvati,
Lakshmi and Saraswati are all different forms of the Ultimate Power
that are revered on different occasions.
It is said that Kali developed her thirst for blood after killing
the demon Raktavera, who had acquired a boon of rebirth with his
each drop of blood from Lord Brahma. The only way Kali could kill
him was to hold him high, pierce him with a spear and drink all his
blood as it gushed out. Kali is often portrayed with her tongue
hanging out and her mouth dripping blood.
History of Kali Puja
Kali Puja is celebrated on the night of the new moon in Kartik. It
is believed that Maharaja Krishan Chandra of Nawabdeep gave an order
that everyone, in his domain should worshipp kali and punishment was
given to the defaulters. So, 10,000 images of kali started to be
worshipped in his domain.
Now, just like all other rituals, the religious sides of Kali Puja
has become quite indirect and obscure. In Kolkata and the suburbs,
Kali Puja is celebrated with equal pomp and grandeur. Always the
images are not fiery looking ubiquitously. In many family Pujas, the
sacred form of Goddess Kali is being worshipped as a practice. One
cannot forget the extraordinary song penned by the famous poet
hailing from Halishahar, Ramprasad Sen who developed a pure human
relationship with his hymns. It is believed that Goddess Kali used
to appear before him as his daughter. One remembers Rani Rashmoni
had established the idol of Goddess Kali at Dakshineswar and had
appointed Gadadhar alias Sri Sri Ramkrishna Paramahansa (known
worldwide through Swami Vivekananda, his disciple's mission) as Her
priest. It was this image of Goddess Kali of Dakshineswar which
Swami Vivekananda found awakened and was transcended in another
world after coming across the living deity.
Firework
The most popular event during Kali Puja is the burning of crackers.
Previously, Kali Puja was synonymous with mind-blowing, often
earth-shattering sound. It is a welcome relief that such torture has
come to an end. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has clamped
down on noisy firecracker manufacturers and has imposed a total ban
on it. Ignoring the directive of the Pollution Control Board would
invite stiff penalties. Already, policemen have fanned out in
various parts of nungi, the largest fireworks manufacturing base in
West Bengal to see whether noisy firecrackers are being manufactured
illegally. The Government is bent on putting an end to Diwali
celebrations as well. Most non-Bengali families somehow procure
noisy crackers and burst them with impunity. The police have issued
stern warning to those violating the orders of the authorities.
Famous Kali Temple in Kolkata
Dakshineshwar and Kalighat Temple in Kolkata are very popular for
Goddess Kali.
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