*Most unique Goddess Kali temples of Kolkata*
*Joy Maa Shyamsundari Temple:*
The temple is situated in the Amher street of Kolkata. It is said to be 300 years old and known as the “Living Kali temple”. Here Goddess Kali is worshipped in the form of a small girl. Through out the year the Vigraha (murti) is adorned in flower garland but on the day of Kali Pujo she is adorned with a garland of skull and her forehead is smeared with sindoor (vermillion). She is offered a special bhog which is made without salt. On the day of Kali Pujo she takes bathe and after that the pujo begins. According to the priest Krishnendu “the main pujo will start at 10pm on 20th October and will continue till 5am, after this again there would be another pujo which will start the next at 10 am and it will continue till 9pm”. He further added that there is a ritual of performing an unique vedic yagya where the bhog is prepared using the flame of the yagya. There is a practice of offering hair to Goddess Shaymsundari Maa . Men and Women shave their entire head and offer it in feet of Goddess.
According to the legend once the priest went to the market for buying groceries on Mahalaya for preparing Maa’s bhog. There in the market a small girl smeared with blue colour came to him asking for banana and raw rice. The priest refused to give food and said that she should work in order to get food then the small girl said that if she could earn her living then why she came to him. He came back and at night he was worshipping Goddess and suddenly found that the vigraha of Goddess Kali started disappearing , priest leaned to look and saw that only Lord Shiva is there lying as a corpse. All of a sudden there was sound of anklets and then priest approached with a lamp then he saw the same small girl’s face appeared in the dark and said “give me some rice and banana to eat, wont you give me some? I am not only rich people but also poor people’s mother”. Hearing this the pujari fainted, since then the temple was opened for public and in ripe banana and raw rice is offered to Goddess Shyamsundari and she is worshipped as kanya (small girl).
New location of Joy Maa Shaymsundari temple:-
23, Dr Kartik Bose street,
Baithakkhana, Kolkata- 700009
*Firingi Kali Bari:*
This temple is more than 500 years old and has several legends. According to one legend this temple was established by Srimanta Dom. As dom was considered to be associated with the cremation rituals so he did not got any priest for the temple and he himself started to worship Goddess Kali . A portuguese man called Antony once converted to Hindu and became great devotee of Goddess Kali . He was popularly known as Antony Firingi (foreigner). He was a poet, lyricist and composer . He used to compose in Bengali. Later he became involved in the renovation of the temple so his name is associated with the temple and thus the temple got its name Firingi KaliBari. Here Siddheswari Kali Maa is established. Once the sweet shop owner of Shri Hari Mistanna Bhandar saw a dream that he is offering Rabri to Goddess Firingi Kali, since then at night she is offered Rabri as bhog (a sweet delicacy made from thickening of milk).
Daily timing: 6:30 am- 12:30 pm 5pm- 8pm
Address:- 244, Bepin Behari Ganguly Street, Bowbazar,
Kolkata-700012
*Chinese Kali Bari:*
Chinese Kali Bari is located in the Tangra region of Kolkata. Tangra is known as the China town of Kolkata. According to the priest Arnab Mukherjee the temple was established by Mr Kem Chong who once prayed to Goddess Kali that if his business expands in all of the world he will build a Kali temple. By her grace his business kept expanding and he kept his promise. The temple has got Hindu symbols as well as Chinese symbols drawn inside the temple.
The temple represents the duo ShivShakti as one banyan tree is there in the temple which is not cut during the construction of the temple, it is intact as at the bottom of the tree there is a Shivling. The priest further added that there is another legend regarding this temple’s Shivling and banyan tree . Once a chinese couple’s child became sick at this place and they couldn’t find anything other than the soil underneath the tree and thus applied to the applied on their child’s forehead and the child became well. Now a vigrah of Lord Shiva is also established in the temple along with the Shivling.
Previously there was a myth around the temple that Goddess Kali is offered chinese food as her Bhog but the priest denied that there is no such thing. Goddess Kali is offered fruits, sweets, Khichdi and Pulaw as done in any other regular Goddess Kali temples.
This year the Pujo will take place on 20th October and arrangements will be made from 7pm and the pujo will commence from 10 pm.
Daily timing on regular days:- 9am -1:30 pm, 8pm-10:00 pm
Address:- 41, Matheshwartala Road
Tangra Kolkata-700046
*Thanthania Kalibari:*
Thanthania Kalibari is located at Bidhan Sarani, College Street. It’s one of the oldest Kali temples of Kolkata. It was built by tantric UdayNarayan. It is built 322 years ago. During that time it used to be in middle of jungle. RamKrishna Paramansha Dev (one of the devotees of Goddess Kali) also used to visit the temple when he used to come to Sutaniti a close by area. During his stay to Sutaniti he used to visit the temple and sing hymns to Goddess Thanthania Kali.
On the occasion of Kali Pujo there is no special pujo performed but all the rituals which are conducted on daily are only followed.
Daily timing on regular days: 6:30 am – 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm-10:00 pm
Address:- Bidhan Sarani, College street
Kolkata-700007
Payal Das
Kolkata Correspondent
WOM
