West Bengal celebrates Kali puja, Diwali

Kolkata, Oct 23: West Bengal ushered in Diwali and Kali Puja Thursday with enthusiasm and fervour for both the occasions.

With Diwali and Kali Puja falling on the same day, it is double celebrations for people here who are still in the mood of a post-Durga Puja hangover. Durga Puja is the biggest festival in West Bangal. However, Kali Puja celebrations are in no way low-key.

People across the state exchanged sweets and savouries with friends, neighbours and relatives. The festival saw the mingling of sizeable population of non-Bengali communities (Marwari, Gujarati, Bihari) and Bengalis across the state to celebrate Diwali.

Thousands of people visited Kalighat and Dakshineswar Kali temples since morning to offer prayers to the goddess on this auspicious day.

Long queues were seen at Tarapith temple, near Rampurhat in Birbhum district, where lakhs of pilgrims converged to seek blessings of the goddess.

In preparation for the evening festivities, people were seen drying their stock of crackers outside. Children helped their parents to put up glittery decorations in their homes. Rows of earthen lamps dotted entrances and other areas of many homes.

Girls and women showcased their artistic skills through variety of colourful Rangoli (folk art in which patterns are created on the floor using materials such as coloured rice, flour, coloured sand and flower petals) designs.

Apart from community pandals (marquees), Kali puja is also performed in houses. Family members pitch in to arrange items for the rituals and the Prasad (food offering to the deity).

The festivities have kept the city administration on its toes. Authorities have banned crackers emitting over 90 decibel of sound to control noise pollution.

The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has urged the residents to observe the norms for a safe Diwali.

IANS