Here’s what Kali Puja 2021 celebrations looked like in West Bengal

Every year, Diwali and Kali Puja celebrations happen on the same day. While Diwali is commemorated across the country, Kali Puja is celebrated mostly by the Bengali community. As such, it happens in West Bengal predominantly, and some other parts of the country and world, where there are Bengalis. Photographed here is one such celebration in Barasat, which is a municipality of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Goddess Kali is a more ferocious form of Goddess Durga, and unlike her counterpart who is venerated during the five-day Durga Puja festival every year, Kali is only worshipped for one day. It is said that since Goddess Kali is known for her quick temper, the puja has to happen with a lot of focus and dedication. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Hindus believe that Kali, the supreme mother of all living beings, is the ultimate manifestation of Shakti. She is neither calm nor patient. She is championed for the annihilation of evil. The Goddess is an extension of Lord Shiva, her consort, who is hailed as the God of Destruction. She is, therefore, considered by many to be the Goddess of Destruction. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

The reason that the Goddess has such a fierce form -- mostly seen wearing a garland made of human skulls -- is because, according to Hindu mythology, she was once on a killing spree, slaying all evil-doers who came her way, for they had wronged the innocent. The heavens shook with every step, and the gods came to Lord Shiva, requesting him to stop her, for she was soon to become the cause of destruction of the entire universe. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Her husband, Shiva, calmly went and lied down on her path, so as to become an obstacle. Mad with rage, she stepped on him, and then quickly realised her mistake, thereby jutting her tongue in shame. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

As mentioned earlier, Kali Puja is a significant festival in West Bengal. People here look to the Mother to protect them from all the evil in the world. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

They throng the puja pandals, just so they can catch a glimpse of the Goddess. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Here, people are seen visiting pandals on the occasion. (Express photo: Shashi Ghosh)

Just like for Durga Puja celebrations, a lot of effort goes into the making of Goddess Kali idols, too, with many places offering variations in style and sub-forms of Kali. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

People who do the puja, do a nirjala fast all day, until the puja muhurat, which starts around midnight and continues until the wee hours of the morning. It is done to appease the Goddess and to seek her blessings. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)