Kali Puja: A Celebration of the Dark Mother
Kali Puja, also known as Shyama Puja, is one of the most significant festivals in Bengal, Odisha, and Assam. Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the fierce embodiment of Shakti, it is celebrated on the new moon night of the Hindu month of Ashwin, coinciding with Diwali when most of India worships Goddess Lakshmi. While the rest of the country prays for wealth and prosperity, Bengalis, Oriyas, and Assamese invoke Kali, the destroyer of evil and the protector of devotees.