Kali Puja 2023: Date, timing and its significance you should know

The entire country celebrates Diwali by lighting diyas and worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. However, in Bengal, Diwali celebrations are preceded by Kali Puja. Hindu mythology considers that the Goddess Kali is one among the ten incarnations of the Goddess Durga also called Dasa Mahavidya.

The word Kali has been derived from the Sanskrit terminology for time-Kal. Since Goddess Kali is the supreme power and the ultimate reality who is beyond the limitations of time and space she is called Kali.

She has many other names like Bhadrakali, Mahakali, and Kalika. The first appearance of Kali was from Shiva. She is the Shakti of Shiva and takes the avatar of Mahakali when it is time to destroy evil and establish justice. Her Mahakali avatar symbolises war, anger, creation, change, time, power, and destruction. Kali is known for saving innocents from evil and is the divine protector who gives liberation or moksha to her devotees.

The different forms of Kali are Dakshina Kali, Bhima Kali, Samhara Kali, Guhya Kali, Bhadra Kali, and Raksha Kali.

When is the Kali Puja performed?

Kali Puja is performed on the New Moon Day which is also called the Dipannita Amavasya in the month of Kartik. The puja generally coincides with the Goddess Lakshmi puja during the Diwali festival. This year both Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja will be performed on the same day.

Goddess Kali is worshipped in two forms mainly. The furious form of the Goddess is black Kali or Shamshan Kali and is worshipped by tantric. On the other hand, the family people worship the mild avatar of Kali which is in blue colour also called Shyama Kali. Both black and blue colour denotes the sky indicating the limitless powers of the Kali.

Date and timing for Kali Puja 2023

This year the Kali Puja falls on November 12 at midnight. The puja timing is between midnight from 11.39 pm on November 12 to 12.32 am on November 13. The Amavasya begins on November 12 from 2.43 pm onwards.

In Bengal Kali puja is a big celebration and the puja is conducted for 3 to 4 days in various pandals around Amavasya. On the main day, people gather around pandals at midnight in colourful clothes and offer sweets, flowers, garlands, and diyas to the goddess. The main flower is blood red coloured Hibiscus which is considered favourite of Goddess Kali.

Sweets are distributed and crackers are burst during the puja whereas cultural programs and fairs are also arranged for entertainment.