Places to Celebrate Diwali in Kolkata
Diwali in Kolkata is celebrated in a unique way that reflects Bengal’s cultural heritage and spiritual traditions. While many households across the country worship Goddess Laxmi for prosperity, a significant number also honour Goddess Kali in her various forms. Temples, streets, and homes illuminate with thousands of diyas, electric lights, and alpanas. Fireworks illuminate the Hooghly River, creating a vibrant spectacle of devotion and festivity, much like the celebrations of Diwali in India. Markets like Gariahat, Burrabazar, and New Market bustle with shoppers purchasing traditional clothes, handcrafted lamps, and sweets such as sandesh, naroo, and chandrapuli.The festival is not only a celebration of lights but also of the divine feminine in its multiple forms. Homes and temples across Kolkata worship different aspects of Kali Maa, each carrying specific spiritual significance. Temples like the Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Thanthania Kalibari draw thousands of devotees, while neighbourhoods like Girish Park host elaborate pandals. Families perform evening pujas, offer flowers, incense, and sweets, and participate in community rituals. Diwali in Kolkata thus blends spirituality, artistry, and social participation, creating a deeply immersive and culturally rich festival that highlights the city’s devotion, creativity, and heritage.
Forms of Kali Maa Worshipped in Kolkata
- Dakshina Kali: The most common household deity, representing a compassionate, motherly form of Kali who protects her devotees.
- Shyama Kali / Syama Kali: A peaceful aspect often worshipped by householders, embodying calm and benevolence.
- Adya Kali: One of the ten Mahavidyas, symbolises the primordial cosmic force of creation, existence, and transformation.
- Smashana Kali: Associated with cremation grounds, representing the cycle of death and rebirth; often depicted with a non-protruding tongue.
- Matangi Kali: Linked to knowledge, music, arts, and language, worshipped by scholars and artists seeking inspiration.
