We are almost at the doorstep of Kali Puja. Sonamukhi will participate in the five-day festival celebration this year, just like the city does every year. The ancient town of Bankura is in the midst of intense preparations.
Sonamukhi is known as the city of Kali-Kartik. The city hosts over a hundred Kali Pujas, both community and family celebrations combined. Among them, Ma-i-ta Kali is notable. The story of Maratha raiders is intertwined with this centuries-old ancient puja. While the story continues to be discussed in folk tales, the enthusiasm for this puja has grown with time. The elderly residents of this city say that there were no brick temples at that time. The area was surrounded by dense forests. The Mother was worshipped under a thatched roof made of palm leaves.
It is said that one day in 1742, a group of Marathas raided Sonamukhi for looting. Playing music and dancing, they gathered in front of that thatched structure. The locals had confined themselves to their homes in fear. That evening, an elderly man came to Ma Kali with a lamp. He lit the lamp and placed it in front of the Mother's pitcher. When he went to bow down in front of the sacred fire, the leader of the Maratha group raised his sword to sacrifice that elderly man. But by some divine power, that sword did not come down. As if someone had pulled the sword back from behind. The Maratha leader instantly lost his eyesight.
The helpless Maratha leader then told the elderly man, “I have realized my mistake. I will not sacrifice anyone here anymore. Restore me to my previous condition.” The elderly man then took water from the Mother's pitcher from the temple and sprinkled it on the Maratha leader's eyes and entire body. The leader regained his sight. The elated leader again asked the elderly man, “Which deity resides here?' The elderly man said, “Ma Kali resides here.” Upon hearing this, the Maratha leader exclaimed, “Ma-i-ta Kali hai.” Saying this, the leader fled from there with his group. While leaving, they also handed over four or five large swords they had with them to that elderly man. Since then, this Kali has been known as Ma-i-ta Kali.
Gradually, the thatched roof made way for a clay temple. Later, a beautiful temple was permanently constructed. There is the Mother's five-skull seat. Right beside it are placed the swords left by the Marathas. Shrikanta De, treasurer of the puja committee, was saying, “This puja has some special features. The pitcher remains in the temple throughout the year. On Kali Puja day, the old pitcher is immersed, and a new pitcher is installed. The puja continues for five consecutive days through various rituals and ceremonies.”
On the third day of the puja, Naranarayan seva is organized. On the fourth day, the puja committee distributes clothes to the needy. Among the old family pujas in the city are the Ray family's Khyapa Kali and the Chattopadhyay family's Chamunda Kali. Besides these, there are several other ancient Kali Pujas in the city under various names.
