Bengal celebrates Kali Puja with fervour; thousands throng temples and pandals

Kali Puja was celebrated with traditional fervour and enthusiasm across West Bengal on Sunday, as thousands of devotees thronged temples, visited elaborately decorated pandals and participated in festivities amid colourful illuminations and heightened security arrangements.

Prominent temples, including Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kalighat Temple and Tarapith, witnessed large gatherings of devotees who queued up to offer prayers to Goddess Kali.

The famous Boro Maa Kali Puja in Naihati, North 24 Parganas district, attracted a large number of devotees from different parts of the state.

Kolkata wore a festive look as streets, residential neighbourhoods and public spaces were illuminated with decorative lights, while intricately designed pandals drew visitors throughout the celebrations.

𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘀

Devotees gathered at major Kali temples across the state to seek blessings on the auspicious occasion.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple, situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, witnessed a steady stream of worshippers, while large gatherings were also reported at the historic Kalighat Temple in south Kolkata.

Tarapith, one of Bengal's prominent centres of Shakti worship in Birbhum district, also attracted devotees who offered prayers as part of the festival.

In Naihati, the renowned Boro Maa Kali Puja remained a major attraction, drawing worshippers from several districts.

The celebrations reflected the deep religious and cultural significance of Kali Puja in West Bengal, where the festival is observed with elaborate rituals, community participation and decorative lighting.

𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹

Across Kolkata, Kali Puja organisers decorated neighbourhoods with colourful lights and elaborate pandals, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Visitors gathered at community celebrations to admire the decorations and offer prayers.

In North 24 Parganas, Kali Puja pandals in Barasat, Madhyamgram and Habra attracted hundreds of enthusiasts.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Asansol, Durgapur, Kalyani and Siliguri, where illuminated streets and community pujas brought together residents and visitors.

Kali Puja, which coincides with Deepavali, occupies a prominent place in Bengal's religious and cultural traditions. While Diwali celebrations elsewhere in the country predominantly centre on the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, devotees in West Bengal offer prayers to Goddess Kali.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽

Security arrangements were strengthened across West Bengal in view of the large gatherings at temples and community pandals, officials said.

Personnel were deployed to maintain order and manage crowds at prominent places of worship and other major celebration venues.

Officials of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) also monitored the use of firecrackers during the festivities.

The monitoring was aimed at ensuring compliance with applicable restrictions on firecracker use and limiting pollution during the celebrations.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari extended greetings to the people of West Bengal on the occasion.

"May Maa Kali bless you with the strength and courage to face all the challenges and overcome the hurdles of life," he said in his message.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya visited Lake Kalibari in Kolkata and offered prayers to the deity.

Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee also conveyed her greetings to the people and shared photographs of Kali Puja celebrations at her residence.

The festival brought together devotees across the state, with religious observances, community celebrations and elaborate decorations marking the occasion.

From Kolkata's illuminated neighbourhoods to the crowded temple premises of Dakshineswar, Kalighat and Tarapith, the celebrations reflected Bengal's enduring association with the worship of Goddess Kali.