India never fails to amaze with its unique offerings. Travellers get ample opportunities to know the country more as they keep exploring. Suppose a traveller picks India to explore its exciting offerings; in that case, she/he will surely pick a metro city like Kolkata, the City of Joy, that welcome everybody with its delicious food and rich history. Kolkata is also known for its spiritual places. Tourists and travellers don’t skip visiting Kalighat Kali Temple, Thanthania Kalibari or Dakshineswar Kali Temple alongside Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum, Howrah Bridge, etc.
We all know how famous Kolkata is for food, including street foods. But when we enter a temple, we never expect to have noodles, one of the most favourite junk foods of all age groups, as prasad. Or did you? We are familiar with getting served ladoos or halwas in North India, while in Bengal, devotees are offered fruits, variety of sweets, including mishti doi and rosogolla, etc. If you never imagined having noodles or chop suey as prasad, you must visit this unique temple in Bengal.
Located in Kolkata’s Tangra area (popularly known as China Town), the Chinese Kali Temple is famous, where devotees are offered Chinese delicacies as prasad and not regular sweets. While strolling through the lanes of this area, you will see a blend of Tibetan and East Asian culture, which makes it a tourist attraction.
The temple and the idol look the same as in any other Goddess Kali temple across West Bengal. The uniqueness of this Kali temple is the prasad that is first offered to the Goddess and later distributed among worshippers. If you visit this temple, you will be offered Chinese cuisines like noodles, chop suey, sticky rice and related dishes.
Interestingly, a Bengali priest worships the Goddess, and handmade papers are burnt to restrict the evil spirits’ entry. During Deepawali (Diwali) celebrations, tall candles are lit in this 80-year-old Kali temple with Chinese incense sticks. This indicates the unity between Hindu and Chinese in Bengal.
So, if you haven’t visited Kolkata or during your next visit to the city, ensure that you visit the Chinese Kali Temple.
