Diwali: India celebrates 'festival of lights', Kolkata worships Goddess Kali

Apart from worshipping Laxmi (the Hindu goddess of wealth), people also indulge themselves in feasting, decorating their house with diyas (earthen lamps), candles and chains of light on this day of festivity that is observed as a national holiday in India.

Major activities associated with Diwali evening are indulging in bursting crackers and distributing sweets to neighbours.

Amid celebrations, the norm of bursting firecrackers is also associated with the fear of spiking air pollution in the nation, especially in New Delhi, the nation's capital, which is fighting desperately to reduce the trouble.

New Delhi witnessed a spike in air pollution for the past several days with a thick layer of smog enveloping the city.

In a bid to avoid further deterioration of the air quality in the city, the state government has imposed a ban on the sale and use of firecrackers this year.

Primarily celebrated in the month of October and November every year, Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".

East India celebrates Kali Puja:

Interestingly on the occasion of Diwali, the entire India worships goddess Lakshmi- the Hindu goddess of wealth while the Bengalis, Assamese and Oriyas adore Goddess Kali.

In Kolkata, Kali puja is celebrated with immense fun and mirth.

Like Durga Puja, the goddess is worshipped by the people in this city in both their homes as well by the local organizers in pandals (marquee).

A lot of rituals is associated with the worship of goddess Kali, who is worshiped at night with Tantric rites and mantras.

She is offered red hibiscus flowers, animal blood in a skull, sweets, rice and lentils, fish and meat.

It is prescribed that a worshipper should meditate throughout the night until dawn.

Homes may also practise rites in the Brahmanical (mainstream Hindu-style, non-Tantric) tradition with ritual dressing of Kali in her form as Adya Shakti Kali.

Animals are ritually sacrificed on Kali Puja day and offered to the goddess though the practice is now less in vogue. Animal rights groups have protested too this ritual of sacrifice.

A celebration of Kali Puja in Kolkata is also held in large cremation grounds where she is believed to dwell.

Kalighat temple and Dakshineswar Kali Temple are two of the famous Kali temples in the city and on this day the priests worship goddess Kali in different ways in this two temples.

In Kalighat temple, Kali is worshipped as Lakshmi on the day of Kali Puja, reflecting an essence of Vaishnava Haldars on Kali worship.

Thousands of devotees flock to the temple on this day.

On the other hand in Dakshineswar Kali Temple, where famous Kali devotee Sri Sri Ramakrishna was a priest, the celebrations have changed little from his times.

Chetla area in South Kolkata hosts a few of the popular pujas in the city.

Revellers go pandal hopping even on Kali Pujas with theme-based decorations setting in this festival as well.

In households, just like Diwali festivities, people light diyas and decorate homes with chains of lights to mark the occasion.

Many Bengali homes also host Lakshmi Puja on this day.

President and PM wish nation:

President Droupadi Murmu wished the nation on Diwali by posting her message on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met her at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Earlier in the day, Modi greeted the nation and wrote on X: "Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali! May this special festival bring joy, prosperity and wonderful health to everyone’s lives."

Modi visited Himachal Pradesh to celebrate Diwali with security personnel.