New Delhi Kali Bari

The New Delhi Kali Bari is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Kali and the center for Bengali culture in New Delhi, India. Established in 1930s, it is situated on Mandir Marg, close to Laxminarayan Temple (Birla Mandir) in Delhi.

History

After several years of demands by the burgeoning expatriate Bengali population, one acre of land was allotted on the new Mandir Marg (temple road), next to the Laxminarayan Temple. The small unpretentious temple to Kali came up shortly thereafter, with a pat (idol) resembling the one at Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata. The mandir committee was formalized in 1935 with Subhas Chandra Bose as the first president.^[1]

Durga Puja

The Durga puja celebrated at the Kalibari, is one of the oldest Durga Puja in the city, it first started in 1925, the original temple of Kali Bari was situated on Baird Road (today's Bangla Sahib Road), where the local Bengali community gathered for the annual Durga Puja. After the present temple came up after 1931, it shifted here. Today, it continues the nodal point for the hundreds of puja committees in Delhi, and is widely revered among Delhi Bengalis.^[2][3] Only older pujas in Delhi are at Kashmere Gate, organized by Delhi Durga Puja Samiti, which started in 1910, and Minto Road Durga Puja started around 1938. ^[4]

The puja celebration at Kali Bari continued to follow the traditional style, with traditional ekchalar thakur (single frame for idols) and sholar kaaj. Even puja rituals have been maintained since 1936, and traditional competitions in Rabindra sangeet and recitation are still organised. Artisans are brought in from Kolkata to build the puja pandal.^{[5] [6]}

Location

The temple is located on the Mandir Marg, situated west of the Connaught Place in New Delhi. The temple is easily accessible from the city by local buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws. Nearest Delhi Metro station is R.K.Ashram Marg, located about 2 km away.

References

1. ^ http://www.newdelhikalibari.com/untold.jsp
2. ^ "Kali Bari website to help old bond with the new". Hindustan Times. February 21, 2011. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Kali-Bari-website-to-help-old-bond-with-the-new/Article1-664922.aspx. 
3. ^ "Delhi's old timers remember as another Durga Puja dawns". Monsters and Critics. Oct 16, 2007. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/india/news/article_1365768.php/Delhis_old_timers_remember_as_another_Durga_Puja_dawns. 
4. ^ "How community pujas came about". India Today. September 25, 2009. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/How+community+pujas+came+about/1/63510.html. 
5. ^ "Tradition fuses with modernity". The Times of India. Oct 3, 2011. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-03/delhi/30238103_1_durga-puja-pandals-puja-committees. 
6. ^ "Festive spirit pervades the Capital". The Hindu. Oct 15, 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101565010200.htm. 

External links

• New Delhi Kalibari, website
• New Delhi Kalibari at wikimapia