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One of the most important points of worship in the city of Kolkata and its holiest Hindu shrine, the Kalighat Kali Temple is vital to the city’s culture. It is also simply called the Kali Temple, and it sees millions of pilgrims every year. The temple is famous for its paintings, dating back centuries, and for being one of the handful of temples in India where goat sacrifices still take place. It is also one of the 51 holy Shakti Peethas in India, shrines that worship and venerate the Hindu goddesses of India that are seen as various forms of the one divine goddess, Shakti. ALSO READ: Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata: 5 Interesting Facts about this Famous Shakti Peeth in Kolkata
Legend has it that the place that the temple now stands was once a Ghat next to the Bhagirathi River, which is more famously known as Hooghly. The Ghat was sacred to the goddess Kali, an incarnation of goddess Durga, herself a manifestation of Shakti. Hence, it came to be called Kalighat, and the city’s name, Kolkata, is said to have come from here itself. As centuries passed, the course of the river changed to where it is now, and what remains beside the Kalighat is the Adi Ganga, a smaller canal that connects to the larger Hooghly. The word Adi, in fact, translates to original. In mythology, Kalighat is said to be where one of the toes of the goddess Sati fell. Sati, the first wife of the god Shiva, immolated herself in rage after her father, the king Daksha, insulted Shiva.
BEST TIME TO VISIT KOLKATA
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Kolkata is as given below. The best time to visit Kolkata is also specified.
