Like Sabarimala, This Kolkata Kali Pujo Restricts Women’s Entry

Kali Puja -- which falls around Diwali in Bengal -- is scheduled to be held on November 6 this year.

By Binita Das

While you rage about the controversy surrounding Kerala's Sabarimala temple, did you also know that a 34-year-old Kali Puja in Bengal also doesn't allow women to step inside the marquee premises?

Our 34-year-old Panchamunda Kali Puja follows tantra (an ancient esoteric Hindu tradition). Tantric priests from Tarapith have been conducting the Puja every year. We had questioned our ancestors, but they said a female is not even allowed to touch anything,

Gangaram Shaw, executive body member of the Chetla Pradip Sangha, told IANS.