The Chinese Kali Temple is located in the Tangra Area which is also known as Chinatown. This area is in the heart of the city Kolkata. As I said this temple stands strong as a perfect image of cross-cultural assimilation. This temple is a connexion between the Indian and Chinese cultures as it strengthens the bond between the two very different communities.
This is a very unique temple, and you would agree with me when you take a look at their “Bhog”. Yes they serve Chopsuey, noodles, vegetable and rice dishes. Don’t worry it’s definitely not a Chinese restaurant it’s a Kali temple. End number of Chinese residents takes a pause at this temple; they take off their shoes and pray to the goddess.
Ison Chen is the person in charge of the Kali Temple. He has been selected for this role by the community. According to Ison Chen the temple site is over 60 years old. Earlier this temple site has a few sindoor-smeared black stones under an old tree which was worshipped by the local people. Eventually an idol was placed here and the same is worshipped now. This suit was followed by the Chinese.
Now the temple is built well, it is now surrounded by granite walls. The temple was well built some 12 years ago by the donations collected from every Chinese family living in Tangra. The two few sindoor-smeared black stones are still present, also there are two traditional Kali statues installed there.
Why Did Chinese Follow The Suit?
There is a Why Did Chinese Follow The Suit? story behind how the Chinese people started to follow this suit. Well the story goes like this, one there was a 10-year-old boy from the Chinese community who fell very sick. The case was too critical and even the doctors had given up on him. The parents couldn’t see any hope of his survival, losing all hopes they lay him down near the sacred tree and prayed for his survival for many nights. And guess what – A Miracle. The boy actually recovered and this was an unbelievable event. Since then the Christians, Buddhists and the Chinese of this area became absolutely great fans of this Kali temple and they consider this temple as an integral part of their community.
Kali Puja @ Chinese Kali Temple
Well if you see in general there would be very less occasions where the ethnic Chinese and the Hindus would intersperse with each other. But on the festival of Kali Puja, it becomes a sight of togetherness. The Chinese residents in the neighbourhood are this temple actually takes a complete day off to celebrate this festival together. The Kali Puja at this temple is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Kali Puja for the Chinese community in Tangra is a very special festival. The entire community gets together in the preparation; they plan well in advance and start their additives early in the morning. During this festival different responsibilities are allotted to different members, some are responsible to get sweets and fruits for the bhog, and some are required to get fresh flowers for the puja and some make sure all arrangements are done on time.
More than 2000 members of the Chinese community visit this temple on the Kali Puja night. They actively witness the Puja and also participate in the pushpanjali and take the Bhog or Prasad.
Chinese Traditions
According to some residents the Kali puja also has some Chinese traditions. On the night of Kali Puja they light tall candles. They also light some special Chinese incense sticks, which disperse a different kind of aroma all across the temple. They also burn handmade paper, they believe by doing so the evil spirits would ward off. Their way of doing pranaam is also different. These traditions according to them are typically Chinese.
This is a very unique temple, and you would agree with me when you take a look at their “Bhog”. Yes they serve Chopsuey, noodles, vegetable and rice dishes. Don’t worry it’s definitely not a Chinese restaurant it’s a Kali temple. End number of Chinese residents takes a pause at this temple; they take off their shoes and pray to the goddess.
Ison Chen is the person in charge of the Kali Temple. He has been selected for this role by the community. According to Ison Chen the temple site is over 60 years old. Earlier this temple site has a few sindoor-smeared black stones under an old tree which was worshipped by the local people. Eventually an idol was placed here and the same is worshipped now. This suit was followed by the Chinese.
Now the temple is built well, it is now surrounded by granite walls. The temple was well built some 12 years ago by the donations collected from every Chinese family living in Tangra. The two few sindoor-smeared black stones are still present, also there are two traditional Kali statues installed there.
Why Did Chinese Follow The Suit?
There is a Why Did Chinese Follow The Suit? story behind how the Chinese people started to follow this suit. Well the story goes like this, one there was a 10-year-old boy from the Chinese community who fell very sick. The case was too critical and even the doctors had given up on him. The parents couldn’t see any hope of his survival, losing all hopes they lay him down near the sacred tree and prayed for his survival for many nights. And guess what – A Miracle. The boy actually recovered and this was an unbelievable event. Since then the Christians, Buddhists and the Chinese of this area became absolutely great fans of this Kali temple and they consider this temple as an integral part of their community.
Kali Puja @ Chinese Kali Temple
Well if you see in general there would be very less occasions where the ethnic Chinese and the Hindus would intersperse with each other. But on the festival of Kali Puja, it becomes a sight of togetherness. The Chinese residents in the neighbourhood are this temple actually takes a complete day off to celebrate this festival together. The Kali Puja at this temple is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Kali Puja for the Chinese community in Tangra is a very special festival. The entire community gets together in the preparation; they plan well in advance and start their additives early in the morning. During this festival different responsibilities are allotted to different members, some are responsible to get sweets and fruits for the bhog, and some are required to get fresh flowers for the puja and some make sure all arrangements are done on time.
More than 2000 members of the Chinese community visit this temple on the Kali Puja night. They actively witness the Puja and also participate in the pushpanjali and take the Bhog or Prasad.
Chinese Traditions
According to some residents the Kali puja also has some Chinese traditions. On the night of Kali Puja they light tall candles. They also light some special Chinese incense sticks, which disperse a different kind of aroma all across the temple. They also burn handmade paper, they believe by doing so the evil spirits would ward off. Their way of doing pranaam is also different. These traditions according to them are typically Chinese.
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