Calcutta Kalighat Kali Devi Temple

We also hear that a devotee saw a bright ray of light coming from the Bhagirathi River. On locating the light he came across a piece of stone which was in the form of a human toe. Close to this place, he also came across Nakuleshwar Bhairav's Svayambhu Lingam. On installing the images in a small temple, he began to worship them in the forest. The present edifice of the temple was constructed about 200 years ago. In 1809, it was Sabarna Roy Chowdhury who built the temple. Many a times the temple has also been linked in the texts of Mansar Bhasan of the 15th century. Raja Basanta Roy was the one who built the original temple. He was the uncle of Pratapaditya and the King of Jessore which is in Bangladesh. You will be able to see the original temple on the banks of Hooghly. Previously, the, traders used to take a stop at Kalighat to pay their obeisance to Goddess Kali. The temple is located on the banks of Adi Ganga and it has a sanctum sanctorum in the company of a huge hall which is also known as the Nat Mandir. In the north-east, you will be able to come across a Shiva Temple. You will not come across any more shrines dedicated to Radha Krishna. It is the image of Goddess Kali in which the main attraction of this temple lies as it bears a long protruded tongue made out of gold. Goddess Kali occupies the main shrine. You will get to see an incomplete image of the goddess. Initially the face of the goddess was made and later on the tongue and hands were made of gold and silver which were added to the image. During 'Snan Yatra' or the Bathing Ceremony) the priests cover their eyes with cloth strips, while they give a bath to the Goddess.