Chinese Kali Temple, West Bengal

Address

Chinese Kali Temple, Matheswartala Road, Tangra, Kolkata, West Bengal 700046, India.

Deity

Shiva Amman: Kali

Introduction

• Location: The Chinese Kali Temple is situated in Tangra, a neighborhood in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, renowned for its vibrant Chinese community. This temple is a unique and quirky religious site, boasting a history of over 60 years.
• Cultural Significance: The temple symbolizes the harmonious coexistence of Hindu and Chinese cultures. Originally, worshippers offered prayers to a black stone smeared with sindoor beneath a tree before the current temple structure was built.
• Prasad: A distinctive feature of this temple is its prasad (holy offering), which consists of noodles and chopsuey, diverging from traditional offerings found in other Hindu temples.

Puranic Significance

• Legend: The temple’s origin is rooted in a poignant story about a 10-year-old Chinese boy who fell gravely ill. Desperate for a cure, his parents prayed near the old tree where the current temple now stands. After several days of devotion, a miracle occurred, and the boy regained his health.
• Establishment: This miracle led to the site gaining significance as a place of worship. In 1998, the granite temple was constructed, with contributions from every Chinese family in the area. The temple houses the idol of Mother Kali, along with a smaller idol of Lord Shiva and another Goddess Kali idol, maintaining the familiar aesthetic of traditional Kali temples in India.

Special Features

• Unique Offerings: While the temple resembles other Kali shrines in structure and idol representation, the offerings set it apart. Instead of traditional sweets, devotees receive Chinese dishes like noodles, fried rice, sticky rice, and other delicacies as bhog (food offered to the deity).
• Worship Practices: Devotees perform puja (ritual worship) twice daily, offering hibiscus garlands to the goddess, combining elements of both Hindu and Chinese practices.

Festivals

• The temple celebrates various festivals, prominently:
  • Diwali: The festival of lights, signifying the victory of light over darkness.
  • Mahashivaratri: A major Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, marked by night-long vigils and prayers.

Century/Period/Age

1000- Years old

Nearest Bus Station

Tangra

Nearest Railway Station

Dakhineswar Station

Nearest Airport

Kolkata (CCU)

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