Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat Kali Temple is dedicated to Maa Kali. It is one of the 4 main Shakti Peethas in India. The other three are Kamakshya, Tara Devi & Bimala. Kalighat was a Ghat (landing stage) sacred to Kali on the old course of the Hooghly River (Bhāgirathi) in the city of Calcutta. The name Calcutta is said to have been derived from the word Kalighat. The river over a period of time has moved away from the temple. The temple is now on the banks of a small canal called Adi Ganga which connects to the Hooghly.

Goddess Kali is regarded as the most compound goddess of the Hindu pantheon. Usually depicted in a horrendous form, Kali is the destroyer as well as the liberator. Goddess Kali, in her wrothful form, is worshipped by thousand of devotees, who come all the way from distant parts of India and the World. The temple attracts a major portion of visitors to Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal.Kalighat Temple is a significant religious place for the followers of Hinduism. As per the legends, the different body parts of Sati fell on the earth at the time of self-sacrifice. It is believed that the right toe of Sati fell here and subsequently; the temple was erected to commemorate the Goddess. Goddess Kalika is the presiding deity in the Kalighat Temple.