At Nandi Bari, for nearly **420 years**, alongside the grand Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja, the worship of Mother Kali has been observed on every Amavasya (new moon night). Here, Goddess Kalika is worshipped according to the Vaishnava tradition. The same artisan who crafts the Durga idol for Nandi Bari also creates the idol of Mother Kali.
In our household, the Goddess manifests as blue-hued Dakshina Kalika. During the puja, the house is beautifully illuminated, and a special altar is constructed in front of the Durga idol’s framework, where Mother Kali is स्थापित (enshrined).
In this divine form, the Mother holds a kharga (sword) in one hand, seated in a fierce posture to destroy all sorrow, suffering, and the inner demons of her children. Yet, within this fierce form, her other hand is raised in blessing (varada mudra) assuring her devotees—
"Do not fear, I am your Mother."
On the day of the puja, the ritual begins with the symbolic departure of Alakshmi (goddess of misfortune). She is swept out of the house with a broom and left at a distant roadside corner. Thereafter, a sacred kalash (ghat) is immersed and brought from the household pond, along with the revered Narayan Shila, also known as Shri Shri Raghunath Jiu.
The worship then continues for nearly four prahars (extended ritual periods) . Devotional practices such as Chandi Path, aarti, and offerings (naivedya) are performed with deep reverence.
Although Kali Puja is now celebrated in many parts of Medinipur town, Nandi Bari is primarily renowned for its Durga Puja. As a result, many are unaware of this sacred Kali worship, and the gathering remains relatively intimate and serene.
During the third prahar of the night, the priest personally prepares fresh luchi (fried bread) and suji (semolina dish), which are offered warm to the Goddess. This sacred offering must be prepared only by a Brahmin, according to tradition. The Mother accepts this offering with grace.
Notably, no animal sacrifice is practiced here. The Mother is revered as the jagat Janani—the Universal Mother of all beings, who embraces all life with compassion. With devotion and mantra recitation, all members engaged in the household worship offer pushpanjali (floral offerings) at her feet:
*“Namah Kali Kali Mahakali Kalike Papaharini,
Dharmakama-prade Devi Narayani Namostute.
Mahishaghni Mahamaye Chamunde Mundamalini,
Ayurarogya Vijayam Dehi Devi Namostute.
Esha sachandana gandha pushpa bilvapatranjali
Shrimad Dakshina Kalikayai Namah.”*
Through these sacred chants, offerings are made to the Mother, who, pleased, fulfills the heartfelt wishes of her devotees.
At dawn, accompanied by the sound of birds, doi-chire (curd and flattened rice) is offered to the Goddess, and the ritual concludes with the immersion of the sacred kalash. Later, in the afternoon or night, the idol of the Mother is taken to a nearby river for visarjan (immersion).
At that moment, hearts grow heavy with her departure, and begins once again the year-long wait for this sacred and blessed day.
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