Salkia Jeliapara 3rd By-lane is a narrow, nondescript lane in the heart of the town, which is home to over 50 fishermen families. At one time it used to be a thriving neighbourhood of 500 fishermen families, who bred rohu in local ponds and sold them in the markets. Today, their numbers have dwindled and they are now a small community, where most of the descendants have changed professions. This has been largely prompted by the realty development in Salkia with multi-storeyed buildings and residential houses coming up in every nook and corner. Most of the ponds have disappeared and so has the fishermen. Despite their reducing numbers, the fishermen continue to organise a 400-year old Kali puja that most of the elders believe was started by their predecessors, three generations ago.

Salkia Dhibor Samity, which at one time had only fishermen as members, organises the Kali puja every year. No one outside the community was allowed to take membership. Over time and with dwindling members, the committee has slackened its rules and many Brahmins and people from other communities have joined the samity. The Kali idol at this puja is known as Muktakeshi and stands five-and-half feet tall. It is believed that the puja was started during the reign of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah by the fishermen community in Salkia.

Old residents of the area have to say that the area was covered with dense forest infested with robbers, who worshiped Kali. According to folklore, they sacrificed humans before the goddess. Later, the area came to be inhabited by fishermen. The zamindar of this part of Howrah never really lived here. His house was in College Street in Calcutta. “I have heard that our forefathers would have to travel by boat to the zamindar’s house to give him prasad after the puja. I do not remember ever seeing him come to the puja here,” said Anil Chandra Bera, the 75-year-old president of Salkia Dhibor Samity.

The mandap is a permanent structure that was built some 20 years ago with funds donated by the fishermen community. Funds for Kali puja are collected at the mandap itself over a period of 14 days. “We sit at the mandap a day after Lakshmi puja and collect donations from anyone who comes here. We also have someone who goes around informing residents that we are sitting here for collections. However, we never go from door to door collecting money. We accept any amount that donors willingly give,” said Bera.

The idol at the Salkia Dhibor Samity, (below left) devotees gather for the puja and (below right) visitors giving donations. Pictures by Gopal Senapati

There are many members of the committee who offer to sponsor different things in the puja. “One person chooses to sponsor the idol every year and he continues to do that without any break. If he declares he cannot sponsor the idol for a particular year, only then can we give someone else a chance. We follow the same practice in all respects of the puja, including the bhog and other offerings. We maintain a list of donors who have to wait for their turn,” said Bera.

The idol, too, is made by a particular idol-maker in Salkia, whose predecessors have done the same job. The idol arrives a day before the puja and is immersed the very next day after Kali puja. Puja begins at midnight after amavasya (new moon) sets in. Incidentally, the container of paddy grains signifying Lakshmi must come from a Brahmin’s house. According to the norms of this Kali puja, all preparations for the puja must be done by the men and boys of the community. “Young boys are trained to make all preparations, from cutting fruits to making naivedya and all other puja related work,” said Harihar Bera, another member of the puja committee. Naivedya comprising 25kg of rice is offered to the goddess. “Earlier, we offered 45kg, but the amount has reduced due to rising costs,” said Harihar.

Animal sacrifice is mandatory at the Dhibor Samity puja. Bali takes place at 2.30am and starts with six goats and a sheep offered by the members of the puja committee. “The first bali must be of a black goat followed by others,” said Bera. After that come other sacrifices by devotees. The number goes above 20. “There are many who pledge goats to the goddess and when their wishes are fulfiled they bring a goat for sacrifice on Kali puja. Many also pledge gold and silver ornaments for the goddess like a golden tongue, nose ring and other things,” said Bera.

After animals, its the turn of vegetables and fruits like banana, chaal kumro (ash gourd) and sugar cane that are sacrificed. The handikaath where the animals are sacrificed has never been washed. “It is believed that once a person had tried to wash the structure in the Hooghly but he was washed away,” said Anil Chandra. The arati is a one-hour affair but the crowd never thins through the night at the puja mandap. The remains of the bali is also distributed among devotees and members of the committee. “The heads of the sacrificed animals are given to various people involved in the puja as a symbol of honour,” said Anil Chandra.

Kada-mati is another ritual that is still followed by the members of the community. Men and boys join in to play in the mud in front of the mandap, before the goddess the next morning. After that they go in groups to the river to offer prayers to Ganga. “Since we are fishermen, we must offer a prayer to the Ganga. After that we return to the temple again and the purohit does another arati in the morning before bisarjan,” said Anil Chandra. The idol must be immersed the very next day. Till date no one has ever tried to go against this rule.