If you are a Bengali, then the
very first look of the CR Park Kali Bari, New Delhi will make you feel as if it
is an exact replica of the Kalighat at
West Bengal, and if even if you are not a Bengali, then the sanctity of the
place will fill your mind and body with intense devotion. Visiting this place
is my idea of spending the Sunday evenings if I do not have to go out with
friends anywhere else. The divinity of the place brings calm and peace in my
mind and I feel a sense of relaxation flowing throughout my body.
Built in the year 1973, the Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir was
initially started in the form of a Shiv Temple on a small hill. It was in the year 1984, that two other temples
dedicated to Goddesses Kali and Radhakrishna were constructed. Every major festival of the Bengalis such as
Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja is held here by following the rituals
of the Bengali Culture.
Coming to this place is always spiritual to me. From the
moment you enter the temple, the ringing of bells, the gathering of devotees to
pay respect to goddesses Kali takes you to a different world. The calm and
serenity of the place plays the perfect host and helps me to immerse myself in the
prayers.
This Sunday, I happened to visit the Temple and was
completely mesmerized by the perfect peace that I have now attained, which I
was trying to find after a week long hectic schedule at the office. As I sit on
the floor to offer my prayers I could see a number of old persons bringing
their ‘Bhog’(the offerings made to God in the form sweets) in a quintessential Bengali
way, that is striking it first at the
head of their grandchildren and then giving it to the priest for offering it to
the God.
A couple, then arrives with their newly born, who is all
wrapped in a mini blanket to keep the cold at bay. They gently strike the head
of the newborn against the shrine of goddess Kali and seek the blessings of the
priest for the long and good life of the baby. Again a couple arrives, but this
time they are newlyweds and are along with the respective families of both
sides. They also have come here with the same purpose; to pray for their
happily long life.
After a few minutes, the priest starts the ‘Aarti’ and all
of us start to hymn the names of our respective Gods with closed eyes. The scent
of the incense sticks has already made me pious and I am basking in a heavenly
state of mind. The constant ringing of bells from the back is now making me
feel as if I am experiencing the most spiritual moment of my life.
The Aarti continues for five minutes and we are then told to
form a queue to take the ‘prasad’(edibles offered to god, mainly in the form of
sweets). I take my portion and then leave the place only to find something
entertaining. It was the light and sound show which was being played in the big
ground placed just near the temple. Bengali songs, both old and new were played,
to which fountains of water in synchronization with the light made ceremonious movements.
