Jamai Shasti is dedicated to the son-in-law and is observed mainly in Bengal . It is observed on the sixth day during the Shukla Paksha (Waxing Phase of moon) in the month of Jaishto (May – June) in Bengal . Jamai Sashti 2026 date is May 22. In many regions, Goddess Sashti is worshipped on the day for the well being of the children. 'Jamai' means son-in-law and 'Shasti' is the sixth day in a fortnight in a traditional Hindu calendar. Sons-in-law are invited and honored on the day by the in-laws and is social custom in Bengal . Mother-in-laws cook special dishes especially Hilsa fish on the day. The son-in-law is traditionally welcomed to the house and a yellow thread is tied on the wrist. He is given gifts and in return he gifts the mother-in-law. Then a sumptuous dish is served which mainly includes vegetarian and fish dishes. The significance of Jamai Sashti lies in fostering harmony and unity within the family and honoring the relationship bet...

By and large, Bengali women, as indeed Hindu women all over India, have an important role to play in Hindu rituals. As sahadharmini (partner in life), the wife is supposed to participate in the performance of Vedic or Shastric ritual. However, women, married or otherwise, do perform rituals mostly in the nature of vrata, like observance of fasts. Rabindranath Tagore, in this Banglar Brata, has broadly divided the rites and rituals of Bengali women into two groups – Shastric and pracalita (in popular usage). There are certain rituals which are handed down from mother to daughter. They are Durga Sashti vrata, Yampukur vrata, Kulkulati vrata, Saubhagya vrata and Jitastami vrata. Suvacari vrata is performed by married women on Sundays or Thursdays in the early hours of the morning. The woman prays to Suvachari for the welfare of her family. She faces east while invoking the Goddess. No priest is required for the performance of this vrata. In the month of Vaishakha (April – May), Haricara...

Manasa Devi Puja, dedicated to Snake Goddess, also known as Nag Panchami, is observed mainly in Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam and parts of Odisha on various days in the Bengali months of Ashar, Shraban and Bhadrapad (June - September). The important Manasa Devi Puja 2026 date is August 17. Mansa Devi is the serpent goddess and is believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva. Please note that the ritual is held on July 5, July 18, August 3, August 17 and September 2, 2026 in various regions. The rituals are also known as Manasa Devi Ashtanag Puja. The rituals associated with the pujas are held on the fifth day or Panchami day of all fortnights in the month of Ashara and Shraban. In some regions the pujas and rituals continue for a month and numerous rituals are performed during the period to appease Manasa Devi. There are numerous rituals associated with Manasa Devi. From simple prayers to rituals which many might consider as grotesque. Manasa is the goddess of snakes...

Gandheswari puja is observed on the Vaishakh Purnima day by the Gandhabaniks, a community that trades in perfumes. Gandheswari Puja 2026 date is May 1. Gandheswari is the goddess of perfume and is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. Gandhabanik Community offer special pujas to Goddess Gandheswari on the day. The main ritual is held on the Vaishakh Purnima day. Goddess Gandheshwari is depicted as seated on a lion and has close resemblance to Goddess Durga in form. The community members keep their account books, and weighing machines before the Goddess on the day. Her blessings are taken for a prosperous year ahead. 

Bansberia Ananta Basudev Temple is located at Bansberia, around 48 km from Howrah, in West Bengal. The shrine is dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and the temple is noted for its breathtaking architecture. History Of Bansberia Ananta Basudev Temple – the temple was built in 1679 CE by Rameswar Datta, an ardent follower of Vaishnavism. The temple is built on typical ekaratna style seen throughout Bengal and in some other regions of eastern parts of India. The shrine has an octagonal-shaped single pinnacle and a curved cornice. The shrine is famous for its terracotta sculptures. The terracotta panels depicts various gods and goddesses from Hindu pantheon, stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata and also daily life activities. It is said that Rabindranath Tagore was so impressed by the terracotta panels of Bansberia Ananta Basudev Temple that he got drawings of them done by Nandalal Bose. Another important temple in the same compound is the Hanseswari Temple.

Rash Yatra is dedicated to the divine love of Sri Krishna and Radha and is observed mainly in Bengal . A month long festival known as Rash Mela or Rash Utsav precedes the Rash Yatra day. Rash Yatra 2025 date is November 5 and November 6. Rash Yatra has a long tradition in Bengal and the festival is very famous in the Nabadwip,  Cooch Behar  and Sundarbans area in Bengal . The final and most important day of the festival is marked by various processions – it is observed on the Purnima or full moon day in Kartik month and is also known as Rash Purnima. This is essentially a Vaishnava festival but actively participated by various other communities. The divine union of Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Radha is immortalized on the occasion. Thousands of people from various parts of the state, country and world participate in the processions. Today, especially at Nabadwip, the festival has changed its character. People worship various gods during the occasion including that ...

Nabadwip Rash Yatra is the most important festival at Nabadwip in Nadia District of Bengal. It is a Vaishnava pilgrim center and the Rash Utsav is based on the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Nabadwip Rash Yatra 2025 date is November 5. The Rash Purnima is observed on the full moon day in Kartik month as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in Bengal. Nabadwip Rash Utsav is also known as Pat Purnima, Rash Kali Puja and Shakti or Shakta Rash. For Vaishnava devotees, it is a festival which celebrates the divine love of Radha and Krishna. However, at Nabadwip Rash Yatra gains an important significance for common people. It is a festival of Hari and Hara, Krishna and Kali. Murtis (idols or sculptures) of Vishnu, Shiva, Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali, Krishna, Radha, Annapurna, Jagadhatri and Shirdi Sai Baba are made during the occasion and worshipped in public pandals and homes. At the end of the festival, the sculptures are then taken to rivers and immersed.

Jagadhatri Puja is observed on the ninth day of the waxing phase of moon in Kartik month in Bengal and eastern parts of India . It is also known as Dhatri Pooja and Jagadamba Puja. Jagadhatri Puja 2025 date is October 30. Goddess Jagadhatri is a manifestation of Goddess Durga and the festival is mainly observed in the Chandannagar area in West Bengal – the ritual had its origin here. Today, Jagadhatri Puja is performed in different parts of West Bengal and in some regions in Eastern India . As Jagadhatri, Goddess Durga is the protector of the earth. In the form of Goddess Jagadhatri she is caring and showers motherly love on her devotees. This is one of the mild and happy forms of Goddess Durga. Goddess Jagadhatri is depicted as riding a lion and she has four hands. She holds conch, discus, shaft, and bow in her four hands. An elephant is depicted as lying down near the idol. It is believed that Jagadhatri Puja had its origin in Chandannagar in  West Bengal ...

Kali Puja is observed on the Amavasya day in the month of Ashwin as per traditional Bengali calendar. Kali Puja 2025 date is October 20. The puja and ritual is dedicated to Goddess Kali and is widely held in eastern parts of India and coincide with the Diwali festival. Most rituals associated with the Kali Puja begin at midnight. In many areas in eastern India , Kali puja is a community festival and huge idols of Goddess Kali is worshipped on the day. Hundreds of pandals dedicated to Goddess Kali are prepared on the day for public puja. New black idols of Goddess Kali are installed for the puja. Another tradition is the bursting of the crackers. Goddess Kali is believed to be the human form of the anger of Goddess Durga and she appears to annihilate the most terrible evil. She incarnated to destroy Demon Rakhta Beeja. In some regions, she is equated with Goddess Chandika and Goddess Chamunda . Kali symbolically destroys ignorance and ego and clears the path t...

A total lunar eclipse, or Chandra Grahan, will be visible in West Bengal on September 7, 2025. The Chandra Grahan will be visible in Kolkata, Asansol, Siliguri, Durgapur , Bardhaman Jalpaiguri and other towns from  9:57 PM on September 7 to 1:26 AM on September 8    – as per Indian standard time. Detail Timing of Lunar Eclipse in West Bengal on September 7, 2025 The eclipse starts at 8:58 PM on Sept 7 Touching - 9:57 PM on Sept 7 Total Eclipse begins at 11:01 PM on Sept 7 Mid eclipse is at 11:42 PM on Sept 7 Total Eclipse ends - 12:23 AM on Sept 8 Eclipse ends at 1:26 AM on Sept 8 The Grahan takes place during the midnight and it is visible to the naked eye. Those Hindus following Grahan fasting and rituals need to follow it. All temples will remain closed 9 hours before the grahan and will only open next day morning after pujas and purification rituals.

Lalitha Trishati Namavali is dedicated to Maha Tripura Sundari and it contains the 300 names of the Goddess. Below is Lalitha Trishati Namavali in Bengali pdf and it is from the Brahmanda Purana. Chanting the prayer on Friday is considered highly auspicious. It also highly auspicious to chant the mantra for three consecutive days starting from Shukla Paksha Ashtami to Shukla Paksha Dashami – the eighth, ninth and tenth day of the waxing or light phase of moon – these days fall after Amavasya or no moon day. The Namavali should be chanted in the evening. Those chanting for three consecutive days should make sure that particular tithi is present during the evening time. A person chanting the Namavali should avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol and smoking. The person should chant the mantra after bath wearing neat dress and offering prayers to Goddess Maha Tripurasundari. You can download  Bengali Trishati Namavali here in pdf

This Bengali text of Lalita Sahasranama Stotram is the 1000 names of Goddess Lalita Tripurasundari. It is in pdf format and you can download it if you have pdf reader installed. Lalitha Sahasranamam Stotram is dedicated to the Mother Goddess and extols her glory in 1000 names. The Lalitha Tripura Sundari form of Mother Goddess is worshipped through the Lalitha Sahasranama Stotram prayer. The benefits of chanting the prayer include peace and prosperity. Download - Lalita Sahasranama Bengali Text

Lalitha Trishati Stotram is dedicated to Maha Tripura Sundari and it contains the 300 names of the Goddess. Below is the Bengali Lalitha Trishati Stotram and it is from the Brahmanda Purana. It is chanted for solving financial problems. The popular belief is that after chanting the mantra a person will achieve wealth, property and money. শ্রীললিতাত্রিশতী স্তোত্রং ককাররূপা কল্যাণী কল্যাণগুণশালিনী কল্যাণশৈলনিলযা কমনীযা কলাৱতী কমলাক্ষী ক ‍ ন্মষঘ্নী করুণামৃত সাগরা কদংবকাননাৱাসা কদংব কুসুমপ্রিযা কন্দর্ ‍ প্পৱিদ্যা কন্দর্ ‍ প্প জনকাপাংগ ৱীক্ষণা কর্ ‍ প্পূরৱীটীসৌরভ্য কল্লোলিতককুপ্তটা কলিদোষহরা কঞ্জলোচনা কম্রৱিগ্রহা কর্ ‍ ম্মাদিসাক্ষিণী কারযিত্রী কর্ ‍ ম্মফলপ্রদা একাররূপা চৈকাক্ষর্যেকানেকাক্ষরাকৃতিঃ এতত্তদিত্যনির্ ‍ দেশ্যা চৈকানন্দ চিদাকৃতিঃ এৱমিত্যাগমাবোধ্যা চৈকভক্তি মদর্ ‍ চ্চিতা একাগ্রচিত্ত নির্ ‍ দ্ধ্যাধ্যাতা চৈষণা রহিতাদ্দৃতা এলাসুগন্ধিচিকুরা চৈনঃ কূট ৱিনাশিনী একভোগা চৈকরসা চৈকৈশ্ৱর্য প্রদাযিনী একাতপত্র সাম্রাজ্য ...

Hanseshwari Temple is an early 18th century CE temple complex in Hooghly district of West Bengal. The architecturally unique Hangseshwari temple is located at Bansberia, about 40 kilometers from Howrah. As per History, the construction was begun by Nrsimhadeva, ruler of Bansberia, in 1802. Nrsimhadeva died before its completion. His widow, Rani Sankari Dasi, took over as the regent and completed the temple in 1819 CE at a cost of 500,000 rupees. A number of masons from Benaras were employed in its construction, which probably accounts for its unmistakable Benaras style. Nrsimhadeva Rai while staying in Varanasi during 1792 to 1798 learnt Kundalini and Six Chakras. He decided to build a temple at Bansberia based on Kundalini Yoga. The marbles for the temple was brought from Chunar near Varanasi. The presiding deity of the temple is Hanseswari Devi, who is represented as seated on a lotus whose stalk emanates from the navel of a prostate Shiva. The murti, made of neem, is blue in col...

As per Hindu custom in Bengal, any death in the family is followed by ritual penance for a certain number of days. Some communities observe penance for ten days, while some do so for fifteen days. The food they eat during these days is very simple, pure, without much spice and strictly vegetarian. The days of penance are followed by the final obsequies. At the cremation ground, the eldest son of the dead person gives a ritual bath to the dead body and covers it with a new unstitched cloth. The body is laid towards the south, garlanded and anointed with sandal paste. The eldest son then lights the funeral pyre. If a sick person is dying, he/she is shifted out of the room and moved to the courtyard near the Tulsi plant. The eldest son and others pour drops of water into his/her mouth. A copy of the Bhagavad Gita is generally placed on the chest of the dead person. If a married woman dies, her body is covered with a red-bordered sari and her forehead is touched with vermillion. It is ...

Halkhata is a new account book opened at the commencement of a new year. Opening of the book of accounts by shopkeepers, money lenders and other businessmen at the beginning of a Halkhata, New Year, is also referred to as notun khata, new book. Halkhata is observed mostly on Bengali New Year’s Day, first day of Baishakh. Some observe it on Akshaya Tritiya and others on Ram Navami. In parts of Howrah, Burdwan and Hooghly, Halsal (current year) ceremony along with Halkhata is held on the 13 th day of Baishakh (around April 26 annually). The business premises and the surroundings are thoroughly cleaned and spruced up with fresh coats of paint. The whole place is then decorated with flowers, mango leaves, sola (pith) flowers and garlands, colored streamers and other decorations. On the day of the puja, the businessman and his family take holy dip and then go to the business premises for the puja, which is performed by a priest. Usually small images of Ganesha and Lakshmi are...

The Goddess Kali Temple at Matheswartala Road in Tangra, Kolkata is popularly known as Chinese Kali Temple. The temple was built by Chinese people residing in the China town and it is even today maintained by Chinese people residing in the area. What makes the Chinese Kali Temple different from Other Kali Temple in Kolkata? Goddess Kali worshipped in the temple is benign and kind form. She is not in the usual ferocious form. As Prasad (Bhog), Goddess Kali is offered noodles, rice and momos. Story of Chinese Kali Temple Around 60 years ago, the spot where the current Chinese Kali Temple stands was a place of Shakti worship. Pindi (murtis of Shakti in stone) was worshipped under a Banayan tree here. Once a Chinese boy fell ill and doctors were not able to cure him. The parents of the boy offered prayers daily to the pindi under the Banayan tree. Soon the boy recovered and got back to his normal self. Soon the news spread about the presence of Goddess K...

Bengal has a history of a mixed religion and culture. Regional deities have been worshipped even when there was acceptance of new Gods at nearby regions. Panchopasana, the worship of five Gods, is common in Bengal. A Shiva worshipper not only worships Shiva but also is a worshipper of Agni, Shakti, Surya, Ganapati and Vishnu. So the Shiva Temples co-exist with the local, as well as other, Gods. In Bengal, Shiva seems to have been ascribed some unique and strange dimensions, which endear him to the populace, who are able to identify with his pot bellied lazy cultivator image, nagged by a beautiful wife, who is the darling of her parents. These errant ways are ascribe to as his leela. Shiva is very popular among the common people of Bengal. His worship does not require any big or expensive arrangement; only a little water and fee bel leaves can suffice a Shiva puja. He is called Ashutosha, one who is pleased instantaneously or easily. Shiva is believed to grant every wish ...

Phalaharini Kali Puja is a highly auspicious day dedicated to Goddess Kali in the Jyeshta month in Bengali Calendar. Phalaharini Kali Puja 2026 date is May 16. The day falls during the Amavasya day in the Jaishto month. In some regions the puja will be held on May 16 night. Amavasya tithi should be present at midnight for the puja to be held. Goddess Kali is worshiped on the day in temples and special pujas and rituals are held on the day. The most important rituals on the day include Kali Nam Sankirtan, Anjali, Aarti, and Bhog. The rituals and pujas begin at night on the Amavasya day and continue until next day 3:00 AM. In some regions, goats are sacrificed. Nowadays people cut vegetables instead of animals. Sugarcane and pumpkin are cut and offered to the Goddess. A particular type of pumpkin called Chalkumra (ash gourd) is used for the puja. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa performed special rituals on the day. He used to invoke Mother Goddess on the day. It must be a...