Diwali, one of the biggest and brightest festivals in India, is celebrated with elaborate rituals across the country. Diwali Puja has great significance on this day, and many people worship goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, praying for wealth, success, prosperity, and good luck. Apart from Lakshmi Puja, Hindu devotees in West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam celebrate Kali Puja, an important puja that falls on or a day ahead of Diwali.
Check out the exact date and timings for Kali Puja in 2025.
As the name suggests, Kali Puja, also known as Shyama Puja is dedicated to Goddess Kali. The festival, first celebrated in the eighteenth century in Bengal, is observed on the new moon day, the most significant day of Diwali festivities.
Kali Puja 2025 date and timings
This year Kali Puja falls on October 20. Please note down the exact timings of the ritual, as per Drikpanchang:
Kali Puja Nishita Time – 11:41 PM Oct 20, to 12:31 AM, Oct 21
Duration – 00 Hours 51 Mins
Amavasya Tithi Begins – 03:44 PM on Oct 20, 2025
Amavasya Tithi Ends – 05:54 PM on Oct 21, 2025
While Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja both celebrate different forms of the divine feminine energy, the former is observed on the day when Amavasya falls during the Pradosh period, while the latter is celebrated on the night when Amavasya or new moon occurs at midnight.
Significance of Kali Puja
Goddess Kali, one of the fiercest forms of Shakti, is known to eliminate all negativity, ego, and ignorance. Worshipping her on this darkest night of the year is an appeal to the Divine Power to help the devotee conquer internal and external evil forces. One of the legends associated with the festival is that goddess Kali emerging from the brow of Goddess Durga to defeat the demon Raktabīja, and hence the festival also celebrates the triumph of power over evil forces.
Kali Puja 2025 bhog
Among the common bhog items that are offered to the goddess are khichuri, Sandesh, Payesh (kheer), fruits, Mishti Doi, Niramish Pathar Mangsho, fish curry, Bhaja or fried fitters, among others.
