Hyderabad’s Deccan rocks turn into 'Kalikhetra' as Bengali diaspora celebrates Kali Puja with fervour

The barren rocks of the Deccan have transformed into a new “Kalikhetra,” as the growing Bengali diaspora celebrates Kali Puja with great fervour in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

- ANINDITA CHOWDHURY

In recent years, the number of Kali Pujas in the city has risen sharply, along with the temples dedicated to the fiery goddess who embodies the essence of Shakti. Usually held on a new moon night, the Puja has now evolved into a three-day-long festival, no less grand than Durga Puja.

Even a decade ago, Kali Puja in Hyderabad was a low-key affair, with Diwali taking precedence due to the dominance of North Indian families who had made the city their home since the Nizam era. The Bengali community, however, also has deep roots here, dating back to the time when Aghornath Chattopadhyay, father of Sarojini Naidu, migrated to Hyderabad to become the principal of the newly established Nizam’s College.