While a horde of Mumbaikars welcomed Goddess Laxmi on Thursday, Bengalis in city organised their traditional Kali Pujo for Goddess Kali.
The Bombay Durga Bari Samiti (BDBS) completed 85 years of this annual community Puja at Tejpal Hall Complex in Gowalia Tank area, whereas the Bengal Club at Shivaji Park completed 79 years.
Kali Puja is celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month Kartik, especially in Bengal and Assam. Goddess Kali is believed to be one of the manifestations of Goddess Durga, ridding the world of evil. Her idol is invoked by 'pran prathistha', where it is believed to come alive for her devotees.
During the puja, the priest invokes the deity with special prayers. Maa is then offered the naivaidya, an offering of rice, sugar, fruits, coconut ladoo and batasha. This is also offered to Lord Shiva, the nine planets and the five elements. Thereafter, the devotees offer their prayers through Pushpanjali, offering flowers and special mantras. After this, Maa is offered the bhog, which includes puris and five fried vegetables.
The puja at both the community gatherings starts at the beginning of amavasya (the no-moon phase) after 9.30pm and lasts well into the night till 2am. As many as 108 diyas were lit during the puja at Tejpal Hall, making it a grand spectacle.
Jayanta Basu, president of the samiti, said the "ghoroa" (homely) atmosphere of the samiti will continue to be the hallmark of their Kali Puja. For the first time this year, a programme of Shyama Sangeet (devotional songs for Goddess Kali) and other Bengali songs by one of BDBS's own members was organised during the puja.
The Bengal Club has been celebrating the puja for the last four decades. The Kali temple is located within the club's premises. An informal prayer place was first started nearly 40 years ago by keeping a photograph of Maa Kali. This was later replaced by a clay idol. On 27th, 1997, the temple, as we see it today, was formally opened. This time, Maa Kali murti was made of the authentic koshti matti and was brought from Kolkata.
Bengal Club general secretary Moloy Purkayastha said, "Pushpanjali will take at least an hour and Bhog Prasad distribution will start around 1am, expected to continue till 2.30am or so. We are expecting around 2,000 devotees and prasad arrangements have been made accordingly."
On Friday, the celebrations will continue at the club as the morning after Kali Puja is Annakoot (the day of nourishment). While on Diwali night, Maa Kali is worshipped as Shakti, on Annakoot morning, she is worshipped as Maa Annapoorna, the Goddess of food and nourishment. Annakoot is the prasad that is distributed among devotees after the puja of Maa Annapoorna. It is believed that if one partakes of Annakoot Prasad, his or her food needs will be taken care of for the entire year.
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