01Sati’s toes
When Bhagwan Shiva wandered the worlds carrying Sati’s body after Daksha’s yajna, Bhagwan Vishnu’s Sudarshan cut it, and wherever a part fell a Peetha arose. The Pithanirnaya places the toes of the right foot at Kalighat, with the Devi as Kalika and the Bhairava as Nakuleshwar, whose shrine stands nearby. The image of Kali is of black touchstone, with three large eyes, a long protruding tongue of gold, and four hands of gold. It was once worshipped in a small hut on the riverbank among the jungle.
02The 1809 temple
The present temple, in the Bengali aat-chala style with a curved roof of eight slopes, was built by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury zamindars of Barisha and completed in 1809. Around it grew the bazaar where, in the 19th century, painters made the Kalighat pats, quick, bold watercolours of the gods sold to pilgrims, now treasured in museums. Kali Puja on the new-moon night of Kartik draws the city through the night.
The life of this place
- 1809The present temple is completed by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family.
Near Kalighat Metro station. Tuesdays, Saturdays and amavasya are the most crowded; beware of touts at the gate.
