Mahanisha

Kali puja is the day when Divine mother grace the humanity. Shakti, the Goddess personifying divine power is worshipped in three forms - Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. The festival of Diwali in Bengal is celebrated by worshiping Mahakali and devotees also call this day as Mahanisha. It is believed that Maha Kali appeared on this day, accompanied by 64,000 yoginis.

Kal means Darkness; thus Kali takes away the Darkness that surround our life. She takes away the darkness from every individual who strives in the path of perfection by performing the spiritual disciplines of purifying austerities. Worship to Her brings peace and mental satisfaction - a devotee is always helped by the cosmic power. It is good to have faith and to offer the prayer on Kali puja to any temple or to pray at home.

Kali Puja is known as Mahanisha because the puja is held at night amidst the sound of dhol. Devotees remain awake throughout the night to worship Ma. After Durga Puja, Kali Puja is another major draw of Bengal. This puja is also held in a mass scale. There are prizes and gifts galore during this puja.

Before performing elaborate puja, the verandah of the house is specially decorated with colorful drawings in form of Alpana. The puja starts with a worship of the Guru and Ganesha, the removers of obstacles. The puja symbolizes the surrender of the devotee to Ma Kali. Each element is represented by a material symbol, such as flowers, or light etc. During the entire puja the temple resonates with the continuous chanting of the holy names of Kali. The puja ends with the offering of the arati flame, symbolic of consciousness and sweet pudding, symbolic of union with God to the devotees.

---

FIRST DAY:
Dhanatrayodashi | Yamadeepdaan | Dhan Teyras | Asweyuja Bahula Thrayodasi / Dhantheran
SECOND DAY:
Choti Diwali | Narkachaturdashi | Roop Chaturdashi | Kali Choudas | Mahanisha / Kali Puja | Divvela Panduga / Divili Panduga
THIRD DAY:
Laxmi Pujan | Chopda Pujan | Deva Divali | Sukhsuptika | Kaumudi Mahostavam | Badhausar | Balindra Pooja | Karthigai Deepam | Thalai Deepavali | Sharda Pujan | Bandi Chhor Diwas | Diyari
FORTH DAY:
Goverdhan puja | Bestavarsh | Gudi Padava | Varsha Pratipada/ Pratipad Padwa | Annakoot | Bali Padyam / Bali Pratipada | Muharat Pujan
FIFTH DAY:
Bhai Phota | Bhaubeej / Bhav-Bij | Bhai-Tika | Yamadwitheya / Bhathru Dwithiya | Gorehabba | Bhatri Ditya | Bhathru Dwithiya
RELATED FESTIVALS:
Kojagara | Labh Pancham | Tulsi Vivah

---