Goddesses Durga, Jagadhatri and Annapurna are the different forms of the Goddess Kali. Traditionally, the name of the city Kolkata traced from the word “Kali Chetra” or “ Kalighat”. Though there are several temples of the Goddess in Kolkata, each of the temples depict the unique characteristics of the mother Goddess. These temples unfold the different stories to the devotees and how the different monks associate them closely. On the auspicious occasion of Kali Puja in West Bengal, Life Breezy takes the opportunity to unleash the top 5 Goddesses Kali temple to offer prayer in Kolkata.
Kalighat Kali temple
Due to the Shiva Tandava, various parts of the Sati Parvati's body fell in India. 51 Shakti Peethas (place of worship) formed from the body parts. Kali Ghat is one of these Peethas because four toes of the right foot fell on the banks of the river Ganges in West Bengal. After the monks Atmaram Brahmachari and Brakha Nandagiri founded the temple, it got the name of Kali Chetra. Years ago, the worship house was as small as a hut with a small pond beside it, but later got constructed into a big concrete building. It is one of the unique builds where the idol made of the metal touchstone. The big tongue and the four hands of the Goddess made of gold. It opens from 5 am to 3 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm every day.
Dakshineswar Kali temple
In the year 1885, Rani Rashmoni built this place of worship. This place of worship is also well-known for Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans, a devotee of the Goddess. He joined as an assistant priest under his brother in this shrine. This has grown up as an interesting tourist spot over the years.
Rani Rashmoni planning for a pilgrimage trip to Kasi. One night, she dreamed the Goddess asking her to build a temple on the beautiful site banks of the river Ganga. She finally bought acres of land in Dakshineswar and built this structure. It remains open for worship from 6:30 am to 12 am and 3:30 pm to 9 pm every day.
Adyapith Kali temple
Two kilometres away from the Dakshineswar worship house is the Adyapith Kali building. A walk of 10 to 15 minutes is the difference between the locations of these two shrines. Anand Thakur founded and built this shrine. It is a white color shrine that rests on a single structure. The devotees could view the idol from a raised platform opposite of the shrine. Though the shrine door opens at 4 pm everyday but on special occasions like Kali puja, it opens at 3 pm.
Siddheswari Kali temple
This shrine is on 2, Rajendra deb road, Kolkata-700 007. Here, Siddheswari is the name of the goddess. Devotees crowd here on Kali Puja to worship the Goddess. Shankar Ghosh was the founder of this place of worship. The clay statue of the deity replaced every year before the puja ceremony. Generally, people visit this shrine on Tuesday and Saturday to worship the goddess. The shrine opens from 6 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 7 pm.
Joy Kali temple (Shyambazar)
Joy Kali worship house locates at the five point crossing of Shyambazar (on the R.G. Kar road), Kolkata. This is one of the oldest goddess temples of the city. Monk Girish Brahmachari is the founder of this temple. The then famous personalities of Kolkata like the Chatu Babu ( one road of Kolkata named after him) was the devotee of this temple.