Navadurga
Kalaratri Devi (Kalika)
Kalika Gali, near Dashashwamedh · D 8/17
History & traditions
Kalaratri, worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri, is a fierce protective form of Durga. The shrine is known locally as Kalika and is also associated with Kali in the heritage survey.
Kalaratri’s name evokes the dark night. The Kashi Khanda names her among the powers accompanying Durga in the protection of Kashi. Kalika Gali is the local landmark. Other small shrines in this lane have separate house numbers.
Deity & sacred image
- Deity or sacred figure
- Kalaratri Devi (Kalika), a form of the Goddess in Kashi’s Shakti tradition
- Idol or shrine image
- The sources identify the deity. The image’s appearance and material are unconfirmed.
PILGRIMAGE CONTEXT
Navadurga
The Kashi Navadurga yatra associates each day of Navratri with a different local form of Durga. The Kashi Khanda also describes a family pilgrimage during autumn Navratri and singles out Durga Kund. If you are following the complete yatra, arrange the days around the festival calendar and ask for the local shrine names.
SKANDA PURANA
In the Kashi Khanda
Kalaratri appears as the Goddess’s envoy before the battle. After the victory, the text names her at the head of the Shaktis that protect Kashi. These two roles help explain her place in the city’s devotional landscape.
Browse the Kashi Khanda reading guide