Kolkata Tana Rickshaw – Diwali Vibes (Coaster )

In Kolkata, the City of Kali, Diwali takes a different form. Kali Puja 2025 celebrates the fierce yet nurturing goddess in midnight rituals, glowing pandals, ancient chants, and temple offerings that embody Bengal’s devotion to divine feminine power. As the rest of India readies for Diwali’s brilliance in 2025, Kolkata prepares for a night cloaked in divine darkness. Here, lamps flicker not just for prosperity but in reverence to Goddess Kali—the fierce protector and symbol of Shakti. Known as the City of Kali, Kolkata’s connection to the goddess runs deep; its very name, historians note, is derived from Kalikshetra—the “land of Kali.” The festival of Kali Puja transforms the city into a mesmerising confluence of devotion and artistry, where chants rise into the night air and the sacred presence of the dark mother seems to envelop every corner. As celebrated in Hindu mythology, Kali embodies Shakti—the essence of divine power, force, and energy. In popular lore, Goddess Durga transforms into the formidable Kali to conquer the demon king Mahishasura during an epic battle, ultimately defeating the fearsome demon Raktabeej. She is strikingly depicted with a garland of severed heads and wields powerful weapons such as the Trishul (trident), Vajra (lightning), and Khara (sword). Worship of Kali in various forms can be traced back to the 3rd century BCE, illustrating her evolution from a wild and fierce deity into a more nurturing Goddess while still embracing her diverse personas. Typically, Kali is portrayed as naked, with blue or black skin symbolising the vastness of the sky and ocean, her tongue prominently hanging out.

Kolkata’s tana (hand-pulled) rickshaws are a 19th-century colonial-era legacy introduced by Chinese immigrants around the 1880s, becoming a symbol of the city’s heritage. They are still operational in older parts of Kolkata, particularly for navigating narrow, waterlogged lanes. Despite ethical concerns and efforts to phase them out, they remain a, often used by migrants for transportation and goods.