Kali Puja 2023 in Kolkata: Date, Timing, & It’s Significance
Kali Puja, the festival that calls up the spirit of Bengal, is just around the corner. This year, Kali Puja 2023 will be celebrated on November 12th, is expected to be a divine experience like no other, as it represents the victory of good over evil. Let’s discover the essence of this magnificent celebration and the significance behind its rituals.
The Significance of Amavasya Kali Puja
Kali Puja also referred to as Shyama Puja, is a prominent Hindu festival that worships the Goddess Kali. This significant puja is observed on the new moon day and aligns with the celebration of Diwali. While Diwali is associated with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi in various parts of India, the people of West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam dedicate this special day, falling on the Amavasya tithi in the month of Kartik, to the worship of Goddess Kali.
On November 12, 2023, which overlaps with Amavasya, people engage in Kali Puja, a day before the celebration of Diwali. Devotees hold a strong belief that on this day, they should present their earnings and wealth as an offering to Goddess Kali, seeking her permission to utilize them. They trust that the Goddess will safeguard their prosperity and finances, unlocking the doors to their wealth, a belief also documented in the Saptshati and other sacred texts.
Kolkata Kali Puja 2023 Date & Time:
For many years, Diwali Puja and Kali Puja overlap, but occasionally, Kali Puja may occur a day before Diwali. According to the Drik Panchang, Kali Puja is observed on the day when Amavasya extends into the midnight hours, while the date for Lakshmi Puja, celebrated during Diwali, is determined when Amavasya prevails during the Pradosh (evening) period.
The Rule of Kali Puja
Preparations for Kali Puja start weeks ahead of the festival. This festival is celebrated similarly to Durga Puja, garnering significant attention through the creation of large idols, beautiful pandals, and complex flower decorations. Common spaces are adorned with Kali idols, and people come together to offer prayers and partake in the distribution of Prasad, which typically includes Khichdi, Labra, and mixed vegetables. Kali Puja is performed in two different ways – the Brahmin way and the Tantrik way.
Both mainly involve a series of rituals conducted at midnight to calm and please the goddess. These rites include the use of red hibiscus flowers, red vermillion, skulls, blood, and even animal sacrifices. Simultaneously, individuals offer their prayers to Goddess Kali in temples, households, and large common grounds.
Devotees clean their homes, decorating them with beautiful alpanas (rangoli designs) and illuminating the surroundings with the warm glow of diyas (oil lamps). The main puja unfolds in the evening, during which the idol of Goddess Kali is bathed in milk and adorned with fragrant flowers. Fasting is an essential part of Kali Puja, with devotees abstaining from food until the evening puja. This practice signifies self-control and devotion to the goddess.
As Kali Puja 2023 draws nearer, there is a noticeable sense of excitement and expectancy in the whole of Kolkata city. The city eagerly awaits the arrival of the divine goddess and the magic she will bring.
