Kolkata’s ‘Miracle’ temple that once healed a sick Chinese boy

Maa Kali, or Kali Ma is one of the most fierce deities in Hindu religion. She is powerful, is feared by evil, and can deafen people with her screams. And unlike the usual Goddesses with white skin and calm, serene faces, Maa Kali’s fierceness is evident in her dark colour, and her red tongue that sticks out when she is angry. Maa Kali is a protective mother who destroys evil forces and keeps her children safe. But, in a Kali temple in Kolkata, Maa Kali is not just relevant for Hindus, but also for the Chinese! How? Read on to know.

In a small town in Kolkata, Tangra, the people of Chinese origin can be found in abundance. They own shops, and businesses, and live there with family, calling India their home. And for one such family years ago, this temple became a miracle. According to local lore, the temple’s story begins with a Chinese boy who had been severely ill and his parents couldn’t find a cure for him. So, desperate to save their son, they went to the Kali temple near their home, and prayed with great devotion and faith, and just hoped for a miracle. Gradually, the boy’s condition started getting better and the family was elated. It is said that before this incident, the temple was just 2 black stones that were worshipped by people as Maa Kali, and even as a Shivling, but the family then constructed a proper shrine over there.

While the Hindu temples are usually simple with not many paintings or illustrations, the Chinese Kali temple has certain marks that blend together the elements of the Chinese faith and Hindu faith. And while there aren’t any elaborate carvings and sculptures, there are certain Chinese ornaments, texts, and artifacts displayed in the temple. The temple walls are decorated with bright red colours, common to Chinese temples, and there are also paintings of dragons, a Phoenix, and lanterns that hint towards Chinese culture.
(Image: Gaurav Verma/Lucky Vagabond/Blogspot)

The uniqueness of this temple does not end here! It is also reported by many social media posts and sites that the prasad offered here is not the conventional laddu or halwa, but rather food items like noodles, manchurian, and the likes.

The daily rituals of the temple are quite similar to the ones followed in common Hindu temples. There is a morning and evening aarti, traditional mantras are chanted within the three walls of the temple, a diya is lit up inside the temple just like the common practices, and a priest overlooks the puja and worship everyday.
And to no surprise, both Hindu and the Chinese community come together to pray to Maa Kali to heal them, protect them, and keep them safe from evil.

The Chinese Kali Temple is truly one-of-a-kind and has a unique energy to it that can be felt even in the pictures available of the temple online. There are 2 big idols (murtis), one of Maa Kali and another of Lord Shiva, and numerous pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses. Plus, the way this temple has brought together two communities of completely different faiths is commendable, to say the least. Be it the decor that adorns the walls, or the prasad that is offered to people, the Chinese Kali Mandir will always remain one of a kind for India.

Maa Kali is a protective, fierce deity, but often she is feared by the innocent and children as well. She is feared because of her powerful and intimidating presence, her dark skin, four arms, and the skull garland that symbolise her role as a fierce protector. As the goddess of time and death, she represents life's unpredictable forces. And her link with cremation grounds and destroying evil makes her all powerful and all-feared.