Kali Puja
New Delhi Kali Bari Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. KALI is the Goddess who takes away darkness. She cuts down all impurities, consumes all iniquities, and purifies her devotees with the sincerity of her Love. She symbolizes the darker side of life and epitomizes strength or "Shakti."Kali is worshipped on the night of Kartik Amavasya in October/November(nishi puja). The day is also celebrated as Shyama Kali, the first 10 avatars of Devi Durga. The reason behind worshipping Kali is destroying all evil both that lies in the outside world and within us.
History of Kali Puja
The Kali Puja is held on the night of the New Moon in the Bengali month of Kartik. It is said that Maharaja Krishnan Chandra of Nawadweep gave an order that everyone, in his domain should worship Kali. According to history the present form of the image of Kali, is due to a dream.
In his dream he was ordered to make her image after the first figure he saw in the morning. At dawn, Krishnanand saw a dark complexioned maid with left hand protruding and making cow dung cakes with her right hand. Her body was glowing with white dots. The vermillion spread over her forehead while she was wiping the sweat from her forehead. The hair was untidy. When she came face to face with an elderly Krishnananda, she bit her tongue in shame. This posture of the housemaid was later utilized to envisage the idol of Goddess Kali. Thus was formed the image of Kali. Kali Puja is a major festival for the people of Bengal after Durga Puja. It is celebrated with gusto and enthusiasm. Like Diwali, people in Bengal light lamps, and fire crackers to welcome Ma Kali. Houses are decorated and rangoli is drawn in front of the houses. Kali puja is carried out late in the night. People seek he blessings of Maa Kali during the puja.
The Mythology of Kali Puja Goddess Kali appears in various forms as an embodiment of Shakti, the eternal energy and cosmic power. She is also the Goddess of Tantrism or the Indian Black Magic. Using the powerful imagery of paintings, sculptures, and writings, the celebration of Kali Puja explores and illumines the rich meanings of feminine divinity. Legend has it that Ma Kali was the Goddess of dacoits.
But Ma Kali is the Goddess of common man the middle-class people, or the daily wage earner too. Kali Puja, also known as Maa Kali Puja and Devi Kali Puja, is observed on the Amavasi day in the month of Kartik as per traditional Bengali calendar. Most rituals associated with the Kali Puja begin at midnight.
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