Kālī Pūjā 1973

Kali Puja (কালীপূজা), also called Shyama Puja, is the worship of Ma Kali on the new moon of Kartik, the same night that the rest of India keeps Diwali. In Bengal, Assam and Odisha the Mother is worshipped at Nishitha, the depth of the night, when the new moon holds.

Homes and streets are lit with lamps and candles, and the Goddess, dark as the night, with garland of heads and outstretched tongue, is worshipped with red hibiscus, lamps, sweets and offerings. Great pandals rise across Kolkata, and the temples of Kalighat, Dakshineswar and Tarapith keep vigil all night.

The night before is Bhoot Chaturdashi, when fourteen lamps are lit and fourteen greens eaten to keep away the spirits of the dark.