Full Details Of West Bengal Kalighat Kali Temple
KALIGHAT KALI TEMPLE, WEST BENGAL
- Locality/village:- Howrah
- State :-West Bengal
- Country :- India
- Nearest City/Town:-Howrah
- Best Season To Visit:- All
- Languages :- Bengali& English
- Temple Timings:- five.00 AM and 10.30 PM.
- Photography :- Not Allowed.
The Kalighat Kali Temple is one of the maximum revered and sacred Hindu temples in India, located within the town of Kolkata (previously called Calcutta) in the kingdom of West Bengal. The temple is devoted to Goddess Kali, the fierce and powerful incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Durga, and is considered to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas (sacred web sites where the body parts of Goddess Sati are believed to have fallen) in India. The temple is a popular pilgrimage web site and attracts devotees from all around the united states of america and the sector.
History and Legends
The records of the Kalighat Kali Temple dates returned to historical instances and is shrouded in myths and legends. According to 1 legend, the temple was firstly constructed via the sage Vyasadeva, who become believed to be the writer of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. He is stated to have hooked up a stone image of Goddess Kali at this website, which changed into later rediscovered by way of the saint Adi Shankaracharya within the eighth century CE.
Another legend states that the temple became built via the King of Bengal, King Manikya Chandra, within the 16th century CE. The king had a vision of the goddess Kali, who told him to construct a temple at this web page. He then commissioned the construction of the temple, which was finished in the 17th century.
The temple has passed through numerous renovations and restorations over time, and its cutting-edge form is the end result of great renovations completed inside the nineteenth century by way of the Kolkata-based totally philanthropist Rani Rashmoni. It is said that Rani Rashmoni had a dream in which the goddess Kali seemed to her and instructed her to build a brand new temple at Kalighat. She then commissioned the construction of a new temple, which become finished in 1809.
Architecture and Design
The Kalighat Kali Temple is a beautiful and stunning structure, with particular and special structure that is typical of the Bengali style. The temple complex comprises several buildings and structures, together with the main temple, the Natmandir (dancing hall), the Haldar Pukur (sacred pond), and the Sitala Mandir (temple of the goddess Sitala).
The principal temple is a square structure, with a sloping roof and a high entrance gate. The temple is adorned with tricky carvings and sculptures and has a large courtyard in front of it where devotees accumulate to provide their prayers and seek the advantages of the goddess.
The Natmandir is a large hall located adjacent to the main temple and is used for various non secular and cultural activities. The corridor is adorned with stunning artwork and sculptures and is a popular spot for vacationers and visitors.
The Haldar Pukur is a sacred pond located within the temple complicated and is assumed to be the spot where the goddess Kali first seemed to the sage Vyasadeva. The pond is surrounded by means of lush inexperienced trees and is a serene and non violent place for visitors to meditate and offer their prayers.
The Sitala Mandir is a small temple placed in the temple complicated and is devoted to the goddess Sitala, who is believed to guard towards smallpox and other infectious sicknesses.
Festivals and Celebrations
The Kalighat Kali Temple is a hub of pastime during the year, with numerous festivals and celebrations taking area on the temple. Some of the most important gala’s celebrated at the temple include:
Durga Puja: This is the most critical pageant of the yr at the Kalighat Kali Temple, and is widely known with exceptional pomp and grandeur. The festival is held in September or October and marks the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. During the competition, the temple is adorned with lights and plants, and devotees accumulate to offer their prayers and are seeking for the blessings of the goddess.
Kali Puja: This is some other essential festival celebrated at the Kalighat Kali Temple, and is held in October or November. The competition is dedicated to the goddess Kali and is well known with fantastic fervor and exuberance. The temple is embellished with lights and vegetation, and devotees offer prayers and offerings to the goddess.
Navratri: This is a 9-day competition celebrated in honor of the nine varieties of the goddess Durga. The competition is held in March or April and September or October and is well known with brilliant devotion and exuberance via devotees. During the pageant, the temple is embellished with lighting fixtures and plant life, and special puja rituals are performed.
Rath Yatra: This is a festival celebrated in honor of Lord Jagannath, and is held in June or July. The pageant involves the procession of the deities on chariots and is a primary event inside the temple calendar. Devotees from all around the city gather to witness the colorful and vibrant procession.
Janmashtami: This is a competition celebrated in honor of Lord Krishna, and is held in August or September. The competition marks the birth of Lord Krishna and is widely known with fantastic devotion and enthusiasm through devotees. The temple is decorated with lighting and flowers, and special puja rituals are carried out.
Apart from those fairs, several different spiritual and cultural occasions are also prepared at the Kalighat Kali Temple throughout the 12 months, inclusive of song and dance performances, artwork exhibitions, and cultural applications.
Significance
The Kalighat Kali Temple holds tremendous importance for the human beings of Kolkata and West Bengal and is taken into consideration to be one of the most vital pilgrimage web sites inside the u . S . A .. The temple is devoted to Goddess Kali, who is revered as the embodiment of Shakti or divine energy and is worshipped by way of thousands and thousands of devotees throughout India and the arena.
The temple is likewise believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas or sacred websites wherein the frame elements of Goddess Sati are believed to have fallen. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Sati turned into the wife of Lord Shiva and sacrificed her existence by using immolating herself in the fireplace of a yajna (sacrificial fire) executed by using her father Daksha, who was angry with Lord Shiva. In his grief, Lord Shiva carried her charred frame across the universe, inflicting her body components to fall at various locations, which later became sacred sites for devotees to worship.
The Kalighat Kali Temple is also associated with numerous legends and myths and is believed to have a robust spiritual power that draws devotees from all around the global. The temple is also recognised for its specific and different structure, that’s traditional of the Bengali fashion and is a popular traveller destination in Kolkata.
Full Details Of West Bengal Kalighat Kali Temple
Visiting the Temple
The Kalighat Kali Temple is open to traffic throughout the yr and draws thousands of devotees and tourists every day. The temple is placed inside the heart of Kolkata and may be without problems reached via public transport or taxi.
Visitors are required to follow positive tips whilst touring the temple, consisting of dressing modestly and putting off their shoes earlier than coming into the temple premises. Photography is permitted inside the temple premises, but now not inside the temple sanctum.
Devotees can offer prayers and services to the goddess at the temple, and can also participate inside the numerous puja rituals and ceremonies carried out through the temple clergymen. The temple also has a large community kitchen that serves loose food to devotees and site visitors, which is a common practice in lots of Hindu temples.
The Kalighat Kali Temple is understood for its unique and exclusive architecture, that’s typical of the Bengali style. The temple complex consists of numerous systems, such as the principle temple, which homes the idol of Goddess Kali, and several smaller shrines committed to other deities.
The most important temple is a three-storeyed shape fabricated from brick and marble and is crowned with a dome and a spire. The temple is embellished with intricate carvings and sculptures, and is embellished with colourful lighting and flowers for the duration of gala’s and unique occasions.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is positioned on the floor ground, and houses the idol of Goddess Kali, which is product of black stone and is set 12 inches tall. The idol is depicted with four hands, conserving a sword, a severed head, and two lotus plant life. She is likewise shown standing at the chest of Lord Shiva, who’s mendacity at the ground. The idol is included with a purple cloth, and is embellished with garlands of flora and different offerings.
The temple complicated additionally has numerous smaller shrines committed to other deities, consisting of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Saraswati. These shrines are placed on the primary and 2nd flooring of the temple, and are embellished with complex carvings and sculptures.
The temple additionally has a massive courtyard, wherein devotees can take a seat and meditate, and a community kitchen, wherein free food are served to devotees and visitors. The kitchen serves simple vegetarian meals, along with rice, dal, greens, and chapatis, and is run through a team of committed volunteers.
The temple also has a gift store, where visitors can purchase souvenirs and religious gadgets, such as idols, incense, and prayer beads. The shop is run via the temple control, and the proceeds are used for the preservation and upkeep of the temple.
The Kalighat Kali Temple is not just a spiritual website, but also a cultural and social hub for the people of Kolkata. The temple hosts several cultural events and packages in the course of the 12 months, which include tune and dance performances, art exhibitions, and non secular discourses.
The temple additionally plays an vital function inside the social and monetary development of the surrounding community. The temple management runs several social welfare packages, including free medical camps, academic scholarships, and vocational schooling packages, which gain the local citizens.
The temple is managed by way of a board of trustees, which is appointed with the aid of the authorities of West Bengal. The board is liable for the protection and upkeep of the temple, in addition to the management of its finances and sources.
In latest years, the Kalighat Kali Temple has come to be a famous traveler vacation spot, attracting site visitors from all around the global. The temple is thought for its wealthy cultural and spiritual history, as well as its particular architecture and colourful ecosystem.
How to reach Kalighat Kali TempleÂ
Kalighat Kali Temple is a distinguished Hindu temple placed in the metropolis of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the temple is thought to be one of the fifty one Shakti Peethas in India. Devotees from extraordinary components of India and the sector come to visit this temple to are searching for the blessings of the powerful deity. Here’s the way to attain Kalighat Kali Temple:
By Air:
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the closest airport to Kalighat Kali Temple, placed at a distance of approximately 23 kilometers. From the airport, you could lease a taxi or take a bus to attain the temple. It takes approximately an hour to reach the temple from the airport.
By Train:
The nearest railway station to the Kalighat Kali Temple is the Kolkata Railway Station, that is positioned at a distance of approximately 6 kilometers. You can take a taxi, car-rickshaw, or a bus from the station to reach the temple. Other close by railway stations include Howrah Junction and Sealdah Railway Station.
By Road:
Kalighat Kali Temple is well-related by using road to different essential towns of West Bengal and neighboring states. Kolkata is connected to most important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai via countrywide highways. You can hire a taxi, take a bus or power your own automobile to reach the temple. Kolkata has a nicely-developed public shipping machine, and you can take buses, trams, or the metro to attain the temple.
Local Transport:
Kolkata has a well-connected public delivery machine, which makes it easy for vacationers to tour to the temple. You can take a taxi, an automobile-rickshaw, or a bus to reach the temple. Metro is likewise a convenient alternative, and the Kalighat metro station is located only some mins far from the temple.
Overall, reaching Kalighat Kali Temple is tremendously smooth, thanks to its well-linked region. The temple is open from early morning to the overdue evening, and traffic can are trying to find benefits and immerse themselves within the religious aura of the region. The temple draws a huge quantity of site visitors, particularly for the duration of fairs like Navratri and Kali Puja, so it is recommended to plot your visit hence.
Conclusion
The Kalighat Kali Temple is an area of vast religious significance and cultural history and is one of the maximum essential pilgrimage web sites in India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali, who’s respected as the embodiment of Shakti or divine electricity and is worshipped by way of millions of devotees across India and the arena.
The temple is also related to numerous legends and myths and is believed to have a sturdy non secular electricity that draws devotees from everywhere in the international. The temple is understood for its precise and exclusive architecture, that’s usual of the Bengali style, and is a famous visitor destination in Kolkata.
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