Nashik: The city is set to witness a series of events over the weekend, nocturnal Kali puja by Bengali community being one of them, when people of other communities celebrate Diwali on Sunday.Kali puja, also known as Shyama puja is an important festival for Bengalis and the religious rituals will start late on Sunday night during the amavasya (the new moon night) in the month of Kartik. The programme will begin at 9 pm and continue till wee hours during which the idol of the goddess Kali will be decorated and worshipped amidst the chanting of traditional mantra, said Samarnath Banerjee, of Nashik Sarbojanin Kali Puja Committee, Gangapur that will be performing the puja at Akhil Brahman Madhyavarti Samaj Hall, Nashik. The puja will conclude with pushpanjali. Sanjeeb Bhattaracharya of Sangati Cultural Association, said that their group will be organising the puja at Burkule Hall. The programme will start at around 7.00pm with the cultural programmes and singing followed by the puja that is expected to begin at 10.00pm and would continue till 2.00am. The Nashik Kalibari Sansthan, near Pandav Leni has also organised the puja and celebration at the Kalibari Temple. The rituals begin at 7.30pm followed by puja. Devotees fast for all the day and offer anjali to goddess Kali after the end of the puja at about 1.00am (Monday). People then partake in the Bhog that is offered to the goddess, said Sourabh Bhowmick, of Nashik Kalibari Sansthan. At Ramdas Nagar, Kali puja is conducted at Durga Badi at Takli Road, Upanagar. Celebrations and puja continue on the next day where Bhog or Mahaprasad is offered to all devotees during noon and it concludes in the evening with cultural programme.We also published the following articles recentlyBengalis will celebrate annual Kali Puja in Mumbai on Diwali nightThe Bengali community in Mumbai will be celebrating Kali Puja during the Diwali weekend. Various pandals that host Durga Puja will also hold Kali Puja with elaborate rituals and bhog prasad meals. The 101-year-old Bengal Club of Shivaji Park has been organizing Kali Puja for 88 years and will begin the rituals at 9.30 pm on Kartik Amavasya. Other venues for Kali Puja celebrations include Tejpal Hall in Gowalia Tank, Bassein Bengal Club, Chembur, Kallol in Goregaon, and HRCWA in Kandivli East.When is Kali Puja? Date, timing, significance, and puja ritualsKali Puja, also known as Shyama Puja, is celebrated during Diwali in Indias eastern states. Devotees seek the blessings of the goddess Kali, who symbolizes empowerment and protection. The date for Kali Puja is determined by the Amavasya tithi during midnight. In 2023, it will be celebrated on November 12. Kali Puja commemorates the goddess power and role in defeating evil. Celebrations include setting up pandals with ornately decorated Kali idols, offering prayers and sweets, and hosting cultural programs and fairs. The festival showcases the vibrant culture and traditions of eastern India.After Durga Puja, themes make an appearance in Kali Puja pandalsGuided by Durga Puja clubs, over 100 Kali Puja committees in Kolkata have adopted various themes for their pandals this year. The organizers are also focusing on fire safety measures, medical support, ambulance services, and spreading awareness about green crackers. This trend of adopting themes for Kali Pujas is challenging the traditional way of celebrating the festival. The emphasis is being placed on safety, reducing nuisance, and creating a more organized and environmentally-friendly celebration.

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