Things That Bang

Photo Essay: Dakshnineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata By Aaman Lamba

The Dakshnineshwar Kali Temple is most familiar through its association with Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, who was its head priest from 1855 till his death in 1886. His mystical visions and experiences at the temple brought it much acclaim and a strong following. The unceasing retinue of visitors continues even today. On our recent Christmas holiday to Kolkata, we decided to visit the place along with some Western friends. The journey was a varied ones, passing through many versions of India, from colonial buildings to modern crowded streets. The temple was closed for viewing, but the queues of visitors waited patiently for the doors to open. The central temple has an Orthodox Russian feel to it. It is a traditional Bengali Navaratna style, though, with nine spires. Close to the temple grounds, are an array of shops and small restaurants. There's also a wide array of people, poverty, and animals. We took a boat ride across the Hooghly from Dakshnineshwar to the Belur Math. Many people are constantly bathing, alighting, and crowding the ghats. This was an unusual sight, I'm not sure what was happening here. Check out the complete set on Flickr.