Kolkata's Kali Puja Celebrations Bring Communities Together

In Kolkata, the recent Kali Puja celebrations have been a testament to the city's spirit of communal harmony. Across various pandals, members of different religious faiths have come together to plan the festivities, from decorating the pandals to managing the crowds.

The Mayfair Youth Organisation, whose Kali Puja celebration started in 1970 with just two members, has now grown to include residents from Bright Street, Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Palm Avenue, and Jhowtala Road. In the past few years, the organization has faced funding challenges, but members of the Sikh, Christian, and Muslim communities have stepped in to provide subscriptions, helping to keep the celebrations going.

Similarly, the Fatakesto Kali Puja on Amherst Street has over 1,000 members, many of whom belong to the Muslim community. The organizers acknowledge the hard work of both Hindu and Muslim community members in making the celebrations a success year after year.

Across different Muslim-dominated areas of the city, the Kali Puja festivities have brought together the Hindu and Muslim communities, with members of both faiths participating in the rituals and seeking blessings from the Goddess Kali. The Ekbalpore Shiv Sangha Kali Puja, for instance, has a committee with 20 members, half of whom are from the Muslim community.

These examples demonstrate the strong spirit of communal harmony that permeates Kolkata's Kali Puja celebrations, where people from diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate the festival of lights.