shakti · West Bengal
Kalighat Kali Temple
कालीघाट काली मन्दिर
Presiding deity: Goddess Kali in her Dakshina Kali form — three-eyed, four-armed, with golden tongue and silver hands, worshipped as Kalika Devi; one of the 51 Shakti Peethas where the right toes of Sati fell
Established: Ancient Siddhapeetha referenced in tantric texts; current temple structure built in 1809 by Sabarna Roy Choudhury zamindars on the site of an older shrine going back to the 15th century
Significance
One of the 51 Shakti Peethas where Sati right toes fell during Vishnu sudarshana dismemberment; foremost Kali kshetra of eastern India; the name Kolkata is derived from Kalighat (Kalikkhetra → Kalikata → Kolkata); the original Adi Ganga that flowed beside the temple was the city sacred lifeline
Legend
A young Brahmin priest named Atmaram Chakraborty discovered the swayambhu (self-manifested) stone face of Kali emerging from the Adi Ganga waters in the 15th century; the present three-eyed silver-handed murti was crafted to enshrine that original stone face; Ramakrishna Paramahamsa had countless darshans here that shaped his Mother-Kali bhakti tradition
How to reach
Kalighat is in south Kolkata, 8 km from Howrah Station; nearest metro station Kalighat (0.5 km); city buses, taxis and trams ply continuously
Where to stay
Hotel Hindusthan International, ITC Sonar, The Park Kolkata, numerous mid-range hotels in Bhowanipur and Alipore
Primary pujas performed here
- Kali Puja Amavasya
- Mangala Aarti
- Sandhya Aarti
- Annakoot
- Tantric Sadhana
- Shyama Sangit recitation
What to offer: Red hibiscus garlands, sindoor, red cloth, coconut, goat sacrifice offerings (ritual permitted on specific days), bel patra, the famous Kalighat bhog of khichuri and labra
Modern access
Major pilgrimage circuit with Dakshineswar, Tarapith, Bakreshwar and Kamakhya; the temple trust runs annapurna kitchen feeding 10,000+ devotees daily; visited by every major political leader, saint and artist of Bengal; Mother Teresa Nirmal Hriday is adjacent to the temple
Nearby tirthas
- dakshineswar-bhavatarini
- tarapith-bengal
- belur-math-ramakrishna
- bakreshwar-shakti-peeth
- kamakhya-guwahati