October 24th - Bengalis celebrate Kali puja on the occasion of Diwali. It is believed that on this day Goddess Kali killed the demon Raktavija.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma granted a boon to Raktavija, that out of every drop of his blood that fell upon the ground hundreds of demons like him would evolve. The only way Kali could stop him was by drinking his blood. She began killing indiscriminantly. In order to stop her, Lord Shiva, her husband laid upon her feet. Upon seeing her husband, on her feet, Kali stopped. The world was then saved from destruction. The puja is performed on the night of new moon in the Bengali month of Kartik. The image of Kali shows her foot on Lord Shiva�s chest, with a severed head in her hand, a protruding tongue and a garland of skulls. She epitomizes Shakti or power, and is also the Goddess of Tantrism or Indian black magic. Different representations of Goddess Kali are Siddha Kali, Bhadra Kali, Raksha Kali, Shwashan Kali and Maha Kali.