The auspicious festival of Diwali 2020 is here, which means it is also the festival of Kali Puja. Coincided with the festival of lights, Kali Puja, also called Shyama Puja or Mahanisha Puja, people worship Goddess Kali on the new moon day. Kali Puja 2020 is on November 14, and rituals will be followed during the Amavasya tithi. With the auspicious festival approaching, in this article, we will look into more detail about the Kali Puja 2020 date, shubh muhurat, rituals, celebrations and its significance. In addition, we will also bring you why Hindus in some parts of India celebrate Kali Puja during the same time when the rest of the country observes Diwali.

Kali Puja 2020 Date, Shubh Muhurat & Amavasya Tithi

Kali Puja is celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik. It coincides with the festival of Diwali. In most years, Diwali and Kali Puja falls on the same day, but in some years Kali Puja falls one day before Diwali. This year, both the festival is on the same day, November 14, and the Amavasya tithi begins from 3:47 am and ends on 12:06 am the next day, November 15.

Kali Puja Significance, Puja Rituals & Celebrations

Kali Puja is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Goddess Kali, who is the chief of Mahavidyas, a group of ten Tantric goddesses who each form a different aspect of mother goddess Parvati. Kali’s earliest appearance is the destroyer of evil forces, and she is the most powerful form of Shakti. Kali is considered as the first incarnation of Goddess Durga and is considered a more fierce and aggressive form of the goddess. She is depicted with dishevelled hair, wearing a garland of skulls and holding a demon’s head on the one hand and a weapon on the other.

When North India celebrates Diwali to commemorate Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya after years of banishment, Bengalis, Odia, and Assamese across the country, celebrate Kali Puja. While some worship Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali, Hindus in the states named above worship Maa Kali. For Kali Puja, the day when Amavasya prevails during midnight is considered while for Lakshmi Puja, the day when Amavasya prevails during Pradosh is considered. Devotees observe a very strict fast, without drinking water and they break the fast only after the puja ceremony.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 09, 2020 10:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).