Vashi: The 30th Foundation Day of Navi Mumbai’s oldest Kali Temple in Sector 6, Vashi, was celebrated with religious fervour on October 2, drawing more than 2,000 devotees for a day of prayers, rituals and festivities.

The celebrations were organised by the Navi Mumbai Bengali Association (NMBA), with the temple decorated with flowers for the occasion. Goddess Bhuvanmohini Maa was adorned in a red Banarasi saree and gold ornaments.

Head priest Nirupam Mukherjee, assisted by Sandipan Mukherjee, conducted rituals for nearly three hours. Devotees offered Pushpanjali and prayers before attending the evening arati. An elaborate havan was also performed for the peace and well-being of citizens, while a six-course bhog was distributed among devotees.

“During the 1980s, when only a handful of Bengalis had come to live in the satellite city, they expressed a desire to have a Kali temple of their own. At that time, people had to travel to Chembur and other parts of Mumbai to worship Goddess Kali,” said Mukherjee.

He said the absence of a temple in Navi Mumbai strengthened the community’s resolve to establish one. The dream became a reality in 1997 with the establishment of the permanent temple at Sector 6, Vashi, which was subsequently refurbished into its present form.

Established in 1981, the NMBA has grown into a prominent socio-cultural organisation serving the Bengali community through various social and cultural initiatives. Its membership extends across Navi Mumbai, Pune, other parts of India and overseas.

The temple has also attracted devotees from other communities, making it a place of worship visited by people irrespective of caste and creed.