Kali Puja (Shyama Puja) 2026

Puja Vidhi

Who Should Perform This Puja?

• Devotees of Goddess Kali: Families and devotees worship Maa Kali on this night to seek her protection, strength, and the removal of fear and negativity (Bhaya Nivaran).
• Seekers of Shakti: Those who follow the Shakta tradition perform the night-long worship to gain courage, inner power, and the Goddess's grace.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Morning Preparation: Bathe early in the morning and begin the day with a light fast, which many devotees keep until the puja is complete.
• Evening Lamps: Diyas are lit at home after sunset, in the Pradosh Kaal (the period after sunset), to welcome the Goddess.
• Main Puja Muhurat: Kali Puja is performed at night during Nishita Kaal (around midnight). Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Closing the Puja: After the midnight Aarti and Pushpanjali are offered (some families continue the worship until dawn).

About the Festival

Kali Puja, also called Shyama Puja, is a much-loved Bengali festival in which devotees worship Goddess Kali as the destroyer of evil and protector of her children. It takes place on the Amavasya (new moon day) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik.

The Katha (Story of Maa Kali and Raktabija)

Once upon a time, the demon Raktabija terrorised the heavens and the earth. He had received a boon that every drop of blood that fell from his body to the ground would give birth to another demon as powerful as himself. The gods fought him in vain, for each wound only filled the battlefield with more Raktabijas.

Frightened, the gods turned to Goddess Durga for help. As the battle raged, the Goddess's fury took the form of the dark and fearsome Kali, her tongue stretched out and her eyes blazing. She saw that the only way to end the demon was to stop his blood from ever touching the ground.

The Divine Mother descended upon the battlefield and fought with great strength. She struck Raktabija again and again, and drank every drop of blood before it could fall. The gods prayed to her: "O Mother, you alone can destroy this evil. Protect the worlds and free us from fear." Raktabija was slain, but Kali's fury was so great that the earth trembled, until Lord Shiva lay down in her path and her rage was calmed when she stepped upon him.

Pleased with the devotion of her children, the Goddess promised to protect all who worship her with a sincere heart. Since that day, devotees worship Maa Kali on the dark night of Amavasya to seek her protection and strength.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the midnight puja:

• Image / Idol: Idol or picture of Maa Kali, placed on a clean Chowki
• Tilak & Sacred Powder: Roli, Kumkum, Sindoor, and Akshat (unbroken rice grains)
• Lamps & Lights: Clay Diyas with mustard oil or Ghee, and incense sticks (Dhoop)
• Flowers: Red hibiscus (Jaba) flowers and garlands, ideally 108 flowers, and Bel leaves
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): Fruits, sweets, Khichdi, Payesh, and boiled black gram (Mashkalai) as prasad (non-vegetarian offerings are made in some families' traditions)
• Devotional Accessories: A Kalash filled with water, mango leaves, a coconut, sacred thread (kalava), and camphor

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Morning Preparation and Sankalp

1. Wake up early during Brahma Muhurta (the pre-dawn hours), bathe, and clean the home, especially the place of worship.
2. Wear clean clothes and take a Sankalp (solemn vow) with water in your right palm: "O Divine Mother Kali, today I worship you with full devotion. Remove fear and evil from our lives and bless our family with strength and protection."
3. Observe a light fast through the day, taking only fruits or simple food until the puja is done (as your family tradition follows).

Step 2: Lighting the Lamps (Evening)

1. After sunset, light Diyas at the entrance, windows, and around the house.
2. Clean the puja space and place the idol or picture of Maa Kali on a Chowki covered with a clean cloth.
3. Set up the Kalash with mango leaves and a coconut, and place the offerings nearby.

Step 3: Performing the Midnight Rituals (Nishita Kaal)

1. Lighting the Lamp: Light a Diya and incense in front of Maa Kali.
2. Applying Tilak: Apply Sindoor, Roli, and Akshat to the Goddess.
3. Offering Flowers: Offer red hibiscus flowers and garlands, along with Bel leaves, at her feet.
4. Offering Naivedya: Place fruits, sweets, and the family's traditional offerings before the Goddess with a prayer.

Step 4: Chanting and Katha

1. Sit respectfully in front of the altar with a few flower petals in your right hand.
2. Chant the Kali Mantra or the name of the Goddess with deep focus, or recite or listen to the story of Maa Kali and Raktabija.
3. Offer the petals at the Goddess's feet after the chanting is complete.

Step 5: Aarti and Pushpanjali

1. Perform the Kali Aarti with a Ghee lamp and camphor while singing devotional hymns.
2. Offer Pushpanjali (a handful of flowers offered with prayer) three times, praying for protection and peace for your family.
3. Take a moment of silence and bow before the Goddess.

Step 6: Seeking Blessings and Sharing Prasad

1. Touch the feet of the elders in your family to seek their blessings (Charan Sparsh).
2. Distribute the prasad among family members and neighbours.
3. Close the puja with gratitude and break your fast with the prasad and a simple sattvic meal.