Kalkaji
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Kalkaji is the name of a famous Hindu mandir, or temple of the Hindu Goddess Kali, in the city of Delhi, India.
Situated beyond the commercial complex of Nehru Place lies Kalkaji temple dedicated to the Goddess Kalka Devi. Kalkaji mandir is very famous and has numerous devotees thronging it on many religious occasions throughout the year. Small red flags decorate the temple then, and women outnumber men among the devotees. Folklore is replete with tales of the Kalkaji temple, so much so that one does not know where legend ends and history begins.
This is a very old temple and the oldest part was built in 1764 C.E. The Kali Temple in Kalkaji boasts of an existence of 3,000 years, although the oldest surviving portion of it dates to 1764-1771 when the Marathas were in power, where perhaps even the Pandavas and Kauravas had worshiped during the reign of Yudhisthira.
The temple is situated on a hill and is dedicated to Kali. There is a very distinctive feeling there and the devotees are overwhelmed by light, which stay during the whole night. The power of Kali is ambiguous but powerful. Devotees also try to meditate there and a spectacular aarti is held at about 7 pm. The temple is also quite near to the Bahá'í Temple of India, which is just opposite on the other side of a big road.
