Maa Kali is usually shown standing on the chest of Lord Shiva. She symbolizes the darker side of life and epitomizes strength. Devotees believe that the mother goddess kali will protect them from the demons and their cruelty.

Maa Kali also knew as many different name, those are Shyama, Adya Maa, Tara Maa, Dakshina Kalika, Shasan Kali, Chamundi and Bhadrakali. Kali has four arms; she holds a sword in her upper left hand and a demon’s head on the lower left hand. Her other two hands bless her devotees. Her eyes are red and her body is smeared with blood. Three modes of time, the past, present and future are represented by her three eyes.

Kali Puja 2012 in India: Traditionally, Kalipuja is a Hindu festival and declared as a Central Government Holiday or Gazetted Holiday in India. Current year this festival will be celebrated on 11th November 2012. Kali Puja is especially celebrated in West Bengal on the same day of Diwali of other states. Celebration Day: Sunday, 11/11/2012...

According to Hinduism, a long period ago two demons, Shambhu and Nishambhu desired to capture the heaven kingdom (Shawrg-Rajay) of Lord Indra. So, the demons announced a battle with gods. After a extended battles they won and captured the domain of gods.

To rescue their domain heaven king Indra and other gods gathered to Lord Shiva and Parvati and they sought for help. After hearing this Maa Durga becomes very angrier and Maa Kali was born out of Durga’s brow as Kal Bhoi Nashini.

Along with her two accompanies, Dakini and Jogini, she was destined to destroy all evils and their cruelty. In that time she was so much engrossed in the killing spree that she went on killing everything within her sight. To stop this, Lord Shiva, threw himself under her feet. She was so shocked with this act of Lord Shiva, that she stuck her tongue out. Hence we have the common image of Kali standing with her feet on Shiva’s chest and her tongue out.

The festival Kali Puja or Shyama Puja is specially celebrate in the states West Bengal specially in Kolkata, Barasat and Madhyamgram, on the month of Ashwin according to Bengali calendar which fall the month of October or November. While people of all over India celebrate Diwali, worships to the goddess Lakshmi than Bengalis, Oriyas and Assamese worship to Maa Kali.

It is believed that Maharaja Krishnan Chandra of Nawadweep was the first to celebrate Kali Puja in his area. Kali Puja is a major festival for the people of Bengal after Durga Puja. People of West Bengal and some other states celebrate this festival as like Diwali of other states. They decorate their house and drawing Rangoli or alpana (special type of paintings) in front of Ma Kali. Kali Puja is carried out late in the night.

Kolkata Kali Puja festival is another important occasion that takes place two weeks after the celebration of Laxmi Puja. Kali Puja of Kolkata (West Bengal) usually coincides with Diwali to the rest states of India. It is celebrated with wonderful stateliness. People light candles, burst crackers, dress up in good clothes and offer prayers to mother Goddess Kali.

Dakshineswar Temple was built by Rani Rasmoni between 1847 and 1855 on the banks of Ganga River in Kolkata. Today hundreds of devotees visit the temple everyday and on any religious festival, thousands throng the place.

The Kalighat temple was built in 1809 on the site of an ancient temple in Kolkata in West Bengal. It is an important pilgrimage site and hundreds of people visit the temple everyday to offer prayers.

The Kamakhya temple in Assam is one of the Shakti Peethams associated with Shiva and Daksha Yagna. It is located in Guwahati, on Neelachala Parvat.

Tarapith is located 300 miles from Calcutta on the banks of the Dwarka River in Birbhum in West Bengal. With passage of time, the temple that was built by Vasistha got buried under the earth.