Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated across the country with a lot of fervour. According to the beliefs in Hinduism, it marks the day that Lord Rama — an incarnation of Lord Vishnu — had returned to his kingdom Ayodhya as the rightful heir to the throne, after spending 14 years in exile.
To mark his homecoming, the residents of Ayodhya had lighted diyas on a new moon night, and the light emanating from them had illuminated the streets and the entire kingdom.
The goddess is often seen with rage in her eyes and her tongue sticking out. She is darker in complexion and is depicted wearing a garland made of skulls or severed heads. It is said that Goddess Kali is a symbol of vengeance and annihilation of evil. In a fit of rage, Durga had assumed this avatar, slaying demons and other beings whom she deemed ‘evil’, wearing their severed heads to drive fear in the hearts of others.
And while Goddess Kali looks intimidating to some, devotees consider her to be the supreme force, the feminine energy of the cosmos. She is hailed as the Mother who protects her devotees from harm.
In West Bengal, the festival holds great significance. This year, it will be celebrated on October 24, Monday. According to Drik Panchang, the Kali Puja nishita time is between 11.40 pm and 12.31 am on October 25. The amavasya tithi begins at 05.27 pm on October 24 and ends at 04.18 pm on October 25.
