October or November, on the new-moon night of Kartik
কালী পূজা
Kali Puja & Diwali in Orange County
On the darkest night of the month of Kartik, most of India lights lamps for Diwali. Bengal does something else on the same night: it worships Kali — the goddess in her fiercest and most unsettling form, the one who destroys what needs destroying.
Sanhoti observes both. The puja is conducted properly, at night, in the Bengali manner, and the surrounding celebration has the lamps, sweets and gathering that everyone recognises as Diwali.
When it happens
October or November, on the new-moon night of Kartik. Dates follow the lunar calendar and change each year — the next one is confirmed on our events page as soon as the venue is booked.
Most recently: Phalaharini Kali Pujo 2026 · Irvine, CA
See how it wentSee the events calendarWhy Kali, and why at night
Kali is not a comfortable deity, and Bengalis do not pretend otherwise. She is depicted dark-skinned, garlanded with severed heads, standing on the body of her own husband — and she is regarded, in Bengal, with genuine and unembarrassed affection. She is addressed as Ma. The devotional poetry written to her, the shyama sangeet, is some of the tenderest in the language.
The puja is held at night because that is when she is worshipped — traditionally around midnight, on the new moon, in lamplight.
Phalaharini Kali Puja
Sanhoti also observes Phalaharini Kali Puja, a second and quieter Kali puja held on the new moon of Jyeshtha in May. It is far less widely known outside Bengal. The name refers to the goddess who takes away the fruits of one’s actions — the karmic consequences — and it is observed with a smaller, more contemplative gathering.
Diwali alongside it
For families with children in American schools, Diwali is the Indian festival their classmates have heard of, and it matters that they get to celebrate it. Our Kali Puja evening carries the lamps, the sweets, the new clothes and the sense of occasion — so children can talk about Diwali on Monday and mean it.
Previously
Kali Puja & Diwali at Sanhoti
Past celebrations stay online with their programmes and menus, so you can see what to expect.
Questions
About Kali Puja & Diwali
- What is the difference between Kali Puja and Diwali?
- They fall on the same new-moon night. Diwali, celebrated across India, marks the return of Rama to Ayodhya and is observed with lamps and sweets. In Bengal, that same night is given to Kali Puja — a formal night-time worship of the goddess Kali. Sanhoti observes both together.
- What time does Kali Puja start?
- Traditionally the puja is performed late at night, often near midnight. Sanhoti usually runs an accessible evening programme with the ritual itself later — exact timings are on each year’s event page.
- What is Phalaharini Kali Puja?
- A second Kali puja observed on the new moon of the Bengali month of Jyeshtha, usually in May. It is smaller and more contemplative than the main autumn Kali Puja, and is little known outside Bengal.