Kali Puja 2024: Kali Puja is the second greatest festival of the Bengali community, which celebrated during Diwali. It especially celebrates in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha etc.
In most of the year Kali Puja falls on the same day of Diwali and in some years Kali Puja falls might fall in the previous day of Diwali. Kali Puja is celebrated when Amavasya Tithi prevails during midnight. But this year (2024) Kali Puja and Diwali falls in the same day.
Kali Puja Date and Time: 2024
In the year 2024 Kali Puja is set to celebrate on October 31, 2024.
Amavasya Tithi will start on October 31, 2024 – 03:52 pm
Amavasya Tithi ends on November 1, 2024 – 06:16 pm
Kali puja is always falls in Nishita Kaal.
Kali Puja Subh Muhurat will start from 11:39 pm to 12:28 pm
Ritual of Kali Puja
- Performing Kali Puja at home or in temples involves a series of rituals that are carried out with devotion and adherence to traditional practices. Here are the step-by-step Vidhi:
- First Clean the Puja Space.
- Bath and Dress Clean: The person performing the puja should take a bath and wear clean, preferably new or traditional clothes.
- Place the idol or photo in the clean space with Aashan.
- Take a vow or Sankalp with folded hands to perform the puja with devotion and seek blessings from the goddess.
- Chant Kali mantras, such as “Om Kreem Kalikaye Namah,” to invoke her presence in the idol.
- Offerings (Panchopachara or Shodashopachara): Offer essential items: sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, lamps, and food, or the full 16-item offering in Shodashopachara.
- Offer flowers especially red hibiscus, which are sacred to Goddess Kali, along with prayers.
- Each flower should be placed at the feet of the goddess while chanting mantras or reciting Kali Sahasranama (the thousand names of Kali).
- Light an diya in front of the goddess. The flame symbolizes divine knowledge and the dispelling of darkness.
- Dhupa (Incense): Light incense sticks and wave them around the idol, purifying the atmosphere with their fragrance.
- Offer Naivedya: Offer a variety of foods to the goddess, including bhog (food items), sweets, fruits, and even non-vegetarian items if part of your tradition. Kali is known to accept both vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings.
- Perform Aarti by waving Diya in a circular motion infront of idol.
- Lastly distribute prasad among family members and other devotee.
Kali Mantra
Kali Mantra: Chant the Kali Mantra “Om Kreem Kalikaye Namah” or other hymns dedicated to Kali, such as the Kali Chalisa or Kali Ashtakam.
108 Names of Kali: You may also chant the 108 names or the Kali Sahasranama (thousand names of Kali) to honor the different aspects of the goddess.
This mantra is repeated several times to invite the goddess to accept your offerings.
Things needed during Kali Puja
Idol or Image of Goddess Kali, Puja Altar (Chowki), Flowers (Red Hibiscus flowers), Sandalwood Paste (Chandan), Incense Sticks (Agarbatti ,Diya, Camphor (Kapoor), Clothes, Betel Leaves and Betel Nuts, Kalash (Sacred Pot), Sindoor, Durva Grass or Bel Leaves, Ghee or Oil, Puja Bell (Ghanti) and Aarti Plate
History
Ma Kali is powerful form of Ma Durga. According to Hindu Mythology, was born in a moment of rage to defeat Demon Raktabij, whose blood had the power to regenerate himself. As when Raktabij blood drop touched the ground each time a new demon generate. To stop the regeneration, Ma Kali consumed every drop of his blood, after slaying each demon.
After defeating Raktabija and the other demons, Goddess Kali’s anger didn’t ease. Consumed by the fury of battle, she continued her rampage, threatening to destroy the world. The gods, fearing the end of creation, turned to Lord Shiva, Kali’s husband, for help. To stop her, Shiva lay down on the battlefield among the corpses of the demons. When Kali unknowingly stepped on him, she was shocked to realize it was Shiva. Overcome with remorse for stepping on her husband, she calmed down, and her rage subsided. This moment is often shown in images of Kali standing on Shiva’s chest, her tongue out in surprise and regret.
Kali’s victory over Raktabija and the demons is celebrated as Kali Puja, particularly in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam.
