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Makena Wong

7.19.16

Megan and I explored Kalighat Street and Kali Temple Road in the evening after work. These streets had caught our attention during cab rides since they are always bright and bustling. We later learned that this is because these streets surround the Kalighat Kali Temple, one of the holiest sites for Hindus in Kolkata. Street vendors sell a variety of religious statues, prayer beads, flowers, and food. Interacting with the people on this street was a highlight of the trip for me.

Malas (left) are the Hindu prayer beads, used for keeping count when repeating mantras
Hibiscus is the flower of the goddess Kali; people throw the flowers to the god as an offering
The red and white bangles (left side) are worn by married Indian women. The white conch shells (shankh) are blown at the conclusion of puja — the daily act of worship.
Soon, people began coming up and asking us to take photos of their children. I was confused by this at first, but then realized that most of these parents haven’t been able to capture their child’s beautiful faces on camera before.
Babies usually have larger black bindis on their foreheads. This is believed to protect them from evil spirits.
There was a lot of families and children out on the street that night; there may have been a special Hindu festival going on
This was most I have interacted with the people on the street; I felt less like a distant tourist and more like a participant
Flower garlands used to adorn the statues of the gods
Aarti, a ritual often performed two or three times a day, taking place on the street, with the Kalighat Kali temple in the background
You can’t have a true Kolkata adventure without it ending in a chaotic, packed Metro ride