The Kali Puja Festival

In Hindu mythology, the Tridev or the trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Maheshwara is considered to be the supreme. Along with it, Goddess Shakti is considered to be the cosmic, creative energy - the consort of Lord Shiva and the source of all creation. She is considered to be the active power for the destruction of evil and the protector, healer and the mother of all creation. Goddess Shakti is represented in many forms like Goddess Durga, Goddess Laxmi, Goddess Kali, Maa Santoshi among others. Goddess Kali is considered the angriest, ruthless, fiercest and the most feared form of it. Legend has it, that she took into this form to fight against a powerful demon and protect humanity from destruction, fear and plunder. But when clam and peaceful, Goddess Kali is also the most benevolent, living, caring and a kind deity. 

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In mythology, a demon named Raktabeej, laid a spell of plunder, destruction and death with its evil intentions. He got a blessing, vardaan from Lord Shiva that with each drop of his blood that fell on the earth, he would arise again. This made him undefeatable as well as immortal. He terrorized the Gods and all the people with his strength and plundered all along. With his immortal and increasing forms, he started ruling over others and came to a war with Goddess Durga. But he remained invincible. Thus, Goddess Durga took the form of Goddess Kali - the fiercest, brutal, warmongering and the powerful Goddess to fight with Raktabeej and save the world. In the battle, Goddess Kali went on to kill and admonish all the Raktasuras, demons arising from the drops of blood of the demon Raktabeej. She drank all of the blood that shed thus not allowing them to fall on the ground and stop the Raktasuras from arising. She fought and finally killed Raktabeej to free the creation from his terror and destruction. Thus, she came to be worshipped, revered and adored as the protector, saviour and a mother figure for all beings. Goddess Kali is also known to be benevolent, kind to the weak, devoted as well as the needy. Thus, she has both the characters in her persona. Symbolically, she is seen as a Goddess who destroys pain, suffering and pestilences in order to bring prosperity, happiness and welfare to all.

The Kali Puja is celebrated by Hindus all over the world. In the Bengali community, the Amavasya in the month of Kartik as per the almanac is the holy day for the Puja. Some of the pujas are centuries old. In other places like J&K, Himachal and Kerala, she is worshipped too in great fanfare and gaiety. In Assam, the Kamakhya temple near Guwahati also celebrates the puja along with other places. The Kali Puja festival is the second biggest festival for the Bengalis after the Durga Puja. The famous temples dedicated to Goddess Kali are the Dakshineshwar Kali temple, Kalighat Kali temple, the Tarapith temple at Kolkata, the Shakti Peeth Sri Chamunda Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh, the Baitula Deula near Bhubaneshwar, the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh among others. Goddess Kali is said to be the chief deity of Tantricism. She is worshipped to attain tantric, mystic powers during the auspicious nights. She is said to bless the devout with tantric powers of foresight, healing and siddhis. She is considered to be the first form of the Ten Mahavidyas i.e. a group of ten Hindu Tantric Goddesses. Thus, seeking her divine benediction, through special prayers, religious practices, meditations etc. one can gain psychic powers and knowledge. She is worshipped with the red Hibiscus flowers (Joba), a bhog of Khichudi (a preparation of dal, rice, lentils mixed together), payesh (sweet dish), sweets and occasionally animal sacrifices too. People throng the Puja Pandals for the prasadas next morning. The festival draws people from all walks of life seeking for her blessings for happiness, protection from evil and harm and prosperity in their lives.