Imagine a small temple in Kolkata, tucked away in Kolkata’s vibrant Tangra district, an upscale enclave of India steeped in Chinese heritage. However, this is not your typical temple. It is a special place where two cultures merge, the Chinese Kali temple.
Inside, there are statues of Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva, and it is crowded with daily prayers and rituals. Of particular interest is the variety of foods offered to the goddess. In addition to regular offerings such as flowers, noodles and other Chinese foods are also offered as sacred offerings.
According to locals, long ago there were two stones near a big tree. People would smear red powder on them and pray to them every day. Then something extraordinary started to happen. A Chinese boy fell seriously ill and no medicine seemed to help. His worried parents prayed: goddess kali At that stone, miraculously, the boy got better!
After experiencing the miracle, the boy’s family built a temple on the spot. Making the project a reality required a huge effort, with members of the Chinese community donating funds. Eventually, this temple was erected magnificently as an expression of the harmony of her two cultures.
Saturdays are especially important in the temple, where large-scale ceremonies are held in honor of the goddess.meanwhile diwali festivalThe temple is lit with candles like anywhere else, but they also burn special incense and papers to ward off evil spirits.
The way people prostrate before the idols here is unique compared to what you see elsewhere in India. Instead of the usual style of bowing, they have their own unique way of showing respect to the Goddess.
Why not visit and see for yourself? Let us know in the comments.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Date first uploaded: May 21, 2024, 11:30 IST
