Nalateshwari Temple, Nalhati

The Nalateshwari Temple at Nalhati is one of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas. It is believed that the 'nala' (throat/vocal tube) of Goddess Sati fell here, giving the town its name — Nalhati. The goddess is worshipped as Maa Nalateshwari, a form of Kali, and her Bhairava is Yogesh. According to legend, the temple site was discovered by the sage Kamdev during his meditation, and the shrine has been a centre of Shakti worship for many centuries. The stone face of the goddess, adorned with large eyes and a silver crown, sits inside the main sanctum which is built over the spot where the sacred relic is believed to rest. A unique feature of the deity is that water is said to naturally seep near the throat portion of the idol, which devotees regard as miraculous. The temple stands on a small hillock and attracts large crowds during Kali Puja, Durga Puja and each Amavasya (new moon). Being only about an hour's drive from Tarapith, pilgrims traditionally combine the darshan of Maa Tara with Maa Nalateshwari, as visiting both Shakti Peethas in one journey is considered highly auspicious.