Kali Puja And The Festival of Diwali

Kali Puja and Diwali are the second-largest religious festivals of the followers of Hindu religions after Durga Puja. Kali Puja or Shyama Puja is usually performed on the new moon day of the month of Kartik. This puja will be celebrated all over the country again in compliance with the health rules with the disaster of the coronavirus epidemic in mind.

According to the scriptures, Goddess Durga’s other avatar is Goddess Kali. The name Kali originates from the Sanskrit word 'Kal'. Kali Puja is the worship of Shakti. The victory of the good power by defeating all the evil forces of the world. Kali Devi is known to her devotees by various names including ‘Shyama’, ‘Adya Maa’, ‘Tara Maa’, ‘Chamundi’, ‘Bhadrakali’, ‘Devi Mahamaya’.

On the day of Kali Puja, the followers of Hindu religions light lamps in their homes and crematoriums in the evening to remember their heavenly parents and relatives. It is called Diwali.

Like Durga Puja, Kali Puja is also performed by making earthen idols in the house or mandapa. Kali is also worshiped in stone or metal idols installed in temples or houses.

Puja is performed at midnight by chanting mantras in the Tantric manner. However, in the householder's house, Kali is usually worshiped in the form of Adyashakti Kali in Atantrik Brahmanism.