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KaliPuja takes place fifteen days after the lakshmi puja. The festivity takes place on a new moon night. In the Bengali literature it is often stated that goddess kali is the god of the dacoits. The dacoits used to worship goddess kali before going on a mission of robbery. Goddess kali depicts fear and ferocity. This particular puja is performed to reduce negative energies from our life.Goddess Kali came into being to annihilate two demons that were disturbing the peace of heaven. Kali is also known as maa tara. It is a significant festival in Bengal after the Durga utsav
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It is after the kali puja, diwali, the festivity of light and lamps are celebrated. Kali puja is an intricate festival. It includes innumerable rituals and customs. The people who prepare the offerings for Goddess kali must fast. The Bengali females usually takes a bath, wears clean cloth and sprinkle gangetic waters before entering the kitchen.The foods which are prepared are kichuri (an authentic Indian dish consisting of rice and lentils), labra (a side dish consisting of all vegetables), chatni (consisting of tomatoes, raisins, cashew, dates and sugar), payesh (a sweet dish), pathar meat (red meat of goat).
The goat is actually offered to Goddess Kali as a sacrifice. There are many Bengali families who do not take in onions, garlic and animal flesh including mutton and chicken. These people consider the meat offered to Goddess Kali as sacred. So they cook the meat of the sacrificed animal with mainly coconut and offer it to god before accepting it as prasada. KaliPuja takes all throughout the night. The offerings should be divided among different Gods and Goddess in nobidoes. Goddess kali must also be offered liquor along with water. The worshippers have to accept the liquor as annik. The people who fast even during the puja can pay homage to Goddess Kali as onjoli. It is only after the puja is over can the devotees break their fast.
123 Durgapuja provides us all information on Kali puja world wide.
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