Kali Puja

Kali Puja is an amazing Indian holiday! This year it falls on October 24th. Today, a tribal goddess is honored, protecting the people and regions of the state. Join an exciting journey into Hindu mythology!

History

Kali Puja has been widely celebrated relatively recently, since the 17th century. It is celebrated on the new moon (Dipannita Amavasya) of the Hindu month of Kartik, dedicated to the goddess of happiness Lakshmi, but in the northeast of India she was eclipsed by the charming four-armed, but bloodthirsty Kali. This holiday has not lost any of its brilliance.

Interesting facts

4 interesting points:

1. In Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati, the festival is held at cremation grounds.
2. The goddess Kali was also revered by the great saint of the XNUMXth century, Ramakrishna. He even served as a priest at the Dakshneshwar temple in Kolkata.
3. In the images, the leg of the god Kali stands on the chest of Shiva. After defeating the Rakshas demons, the goddess could not stop and began to kill people. Shiva offered himself instead of a sacrifice. Kali’s tongue fell out in surprise. And so her unusual appearance appeared.
4. It’s just that the attitude towards death is different. For Hindus, this is simply the moment of transition to the next rebirth. As important as a birth or a wedding, but quite natural.

How to celebrate

During Kali Puja in India’s northeastern states of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Odisha, pandals are constructed. These are temporary pavilions where believers worship clay figurines of the goddess Kali. Many perform this ceremony at home, because the goddess with a necklace of skulls, somewhat shocking to Europeans, is very popular among the inhabitants of the foothills of the Himalayas.

The goddess is presented with bright red hibiscus flowers. Among the offerings to the goddess Kali are fruits, rice, lentils, sweets, meat and fish. Meat and fish originated from the Tantric tradition, since in this branch of Hinduism it is customary to eat them during ceremonies. Tantric rites are also an essential part of Kali Puja, but the uninitiated are not allowed to see them, and mantras to the goddess can be heard during this holiday. Many adepts plunge into meditation for the whole night until dawn.

When is Kali Puja celebrated in 2022?