Koderma’s Grand Kali Puja: Festival of Devotion & Community Feast

Koderma experienced a vibrant two-day Kali Puja celebration at the Kali Mandir near the railway station. Organized by the temple committee, the event was marked by immense devotion, joy, and grandeur. Following the evening Aarti and prayers, a spectacular ‘Jagran’ (overnight devotional singing) unfolded. Local talents and visiting artists captivated the audience, immersing them in spiritual fervor. The ceremony commenced with Ganesh Vandana, beautifully sung by Munna Bhadani. Vinod Chaurasia then led the crowd in singing popular devotional songs like ‘Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai, Mata Ne Bulaya Hai’. A series of captivating bhajans were also presented by Raja Chaurasia, Anuradha Singh, Kshama Sonkar, and Anand Singh. The musical ensemble featured Vishal Kapsime on the organ, Bablu Pandey on the dholak, and other instrumentalists whose performances enhanced the event’s magnificence. Post-evening Aarti, a divine offering was made to Goddess Kali, followed by a magnificent ‘Bhandara’ (community feast) where thousands of devotees partook in the blessed prasad. The air resonated with chants of victory for the Goddess. Temple committee president Dinesh Mishra highlighted that this annual event fosters messages of devotion, unity, and harmony within the community. The puja rituals were conducted by priest Vijaykant Upadhyay, who also initiated the proceedings with the sacred flame of Goddess Kali.