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                                               PILGRIMAGE IN INDIA

Kalighat Temple:- Kalighat,   in Calcutta  (Kolkata),  is  an
important pilgrimage for tantriks. Goddess Kali   is  regarded
as one of the principal deities of  Bengal. She  is  worshipped
as the destroyer or liberator and is depicted in a fearful  form.
Despite Her terrifying form, She is venerated  the world over
by devotees as Maa or the  Supreme  Mother. The  Kalighat
temple  in  Kolkata  is  regarded  as  one  of   the  51  Shakti
Peethas (sanctuaries)  of  India, where  the  various  parts  of
Sati's body are said to have  fallen  in  the  course  of  Shiva's
Rudra Tandava. Kalighat represents  the site where  the  toes
of   the  right  foot   of   Shakti  or  Sati  fell,  as described  in
Pithamala. Though no one  really  knows  the  genesis  of  the
temple, legend has it that a devotee discovered a luminous ray of light coming from the Bhagirathi river bed, and upon investigating its source, came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of  a human  toe. He  also  found  a Syayambhu Lingam (self evolved) of Nakuleshwar Bhairav nearby, and started worshipping Kali in the midst of a thick jungle. This shrine grew to its present form over a period of time, thanks  in  particular  to  Sabarna  Roy Chowdhury, a famous Brahmin Zamindar family of Barisa  in  the  district  of  24  Parganas. "There  are  several stories about the temple but no one really knows the truth," says President of Kalighat Temple Committee  A K Mittra, also a leading advocate. According to tradition, on June 22 every year, the Goddess is given Her annual bath. It is a highly private and sanctified event, privy to only a handful of people.

Sacred rituals:-There are five group of Haldars that have been traditionally  taking  care  of  the  daily  puja  of Maa Kali. In all, there are about  840  members  in  the  haldar  families. Two-three  senior  members  of  these families get together to  perform  the  rituals. The  event  begins  at  about  3.30 am - the  time  for  the  Brahma Muhurta and continues till 1.30 pm. The head priest Shanti Mohan recites the mantras and the haldars bathe the Goddess with the water from the Ganges, perfume, oil (Jabakusum) etc. They  paint  the  body  of  the  Mother with vermillion and dress Her in a Benarasi silk sari bought  by  members  of  the  Kalighat  Temple  Committee (KTC). Below the statue of the deity is a silver box  in  which  the Goddess's toe  is  preserved. On  that day  it  is opened and bathed. Nobody is allowed to see that. On regular days, the morning puja begins between  4 am and 5 am. And the temple is open from 5 am onwards for public. Around 6.30 am the Goddess is offered fruits and sweets and the afternoon bhog comprises pulao, rice, fish, mutton, fruits and  sweets. The  food  is  cooked without tomatoes, onion  and  garlic  in  the  three  dedicated  kitchens. Between 6 pm and 7 pm, She is offered traditional Bengali food such as luchi, bhaji, fried brinjals, potatoes and sandesh, and between 10.30 pm and 11 pm, She is given the last bhog of the day, sweets and milk. Goat sacrifice is a common feature at the temple. "If devotees don't perform a sacrifice, the haldar has to offer a goat to the deity. The first sacrifice has to  be  given to Her. There's a legend that says that the  Goddess  visits  the  Dakhineshwar  temple  at  night  and  returns  to Kalighat in the morning. Tuesdays and Saturdays are special days of the Goddess, where  people  in  thousands throng the temple seeking special darshan. The special feature about Kalighat is  that  there  are  no  tickets  and entry is free to all. The temple is open between 5 am and 10.30 pm on weekdays  and  till  11 pm  on  Tuesday and Sunday. It is extended till 11.30 pm on Saturday.

Getting there and Around:-
By Air - Kolkata is well connected by air to all major countries in the world, as well as to Indian cities. The  air carriers that have flights to and from the city include Aeroflot, Air France, Air  India, Biman  Bangladesh, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Gulf  Air, Indian  Airlines, Japan  Airlines, Jet  Airways, KLM-Royal  Dutch  Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Royal Nepal Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International.
By Rail - Trains are available from all parts of  the  country  to  Calcutta.  Most  inward  bound  trains  stop  at Howrah, which is also the station from which major trains to other cities  depart. Most  trains  heading  to  areas such as New Jalpaiguri and other provinces in the north-east stop at the other  station, Sealdah. Local  trains  to nearby towns are available from both stations, depending on which part  of  West  Bengal  you  want  to  go to. Since Howrah and Sealdah are not exactly a hop, skip and jump away from each other, do remember to check which station you need you board your train from, when you buy your ticket!
By Road - A few buses ply from Orissa and Bihar to Calcutta. However, these are  highly  uncomfortable  and best avoided. Buses are also available to nearby towns, especially if you wish to visit Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri on your trip to Calcutta. Depending on which direction you're heading in, buses could depart  from  the  end  of the Maidan near Chowringhee Road, or the bus stand at Babu Ghat near Fort  William. A  few  tour  operators have their own private bus stands, so do make inquiries.

Accommodation:-Accommodation is not a problem in Kolkata as there are thousands of Hotels Ranging  from Luxurious to Budget hotels,Lodges ,Guest houses and Resting beds per hour are also available.