With most Covid restrictions gone, the authorities of the Kali temple in Kalighat will allow devotees inside the sanctum sanctorum on Kali Puja after two years.
At the Dakshineswar Kali temple, devotees will have unrestricted entry into the temple courtyard on Monday unlike the last two Kali Pujas. The worshippers can carry offerings such as flowers and sweets, but no bags, into the premises.
While the Dakshineswar temple will remain open throughout the night, the Kalighat temple will be shut at midnight on Monday.
“Three gates of the temple will be marked for entry and one for exit. We will close the temple at midnight,” said Bidyut Halder of the Kalighat temple committee.
“On Tuesday, the temple will open at 4am for mangal aarati and close for four hours at 2.30pm because of the eclipse.” A partial solar eclipse will occur on October 25.
At Dakshineswar, Goddess Bhabatarini will be worshipped on Monday in four phases from around 10.30pm. Unlike the last two Kali Pujas, the authorities this time will install two giant screens on the temple’s courtyard.
“This is the 168th year of Kali Puja at the temple,” said Kushal Chowdhury of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple Trust.