Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir
Kali; with shrines of Shiva and Radha-Krishna temple · New Delhi (Chittaranjan Park), South Delhi, Delhi, India
The Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir, also called the CR Park Kali Bari, is a Hindu temple complex on a small hill in Chittaranjan Park, South Delhi. It began in 1973 as a small Shiva temple and now has three main shrines, dedicated to the goddess Kali, to Shiva and to Radha-Krishna, built in the terracotta temple style of Bengal.
The temple is run by the Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society and is also a cultural centre, with a library and language classes. It is best known for its Durga Puja, which Wikipedia describes as one of the most popular in Delhi, and for Kali Puja.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir
Chittaranjan Park was founded in the 1960s as the East Pakistan Displaced Persons (EPDP) colony for families who had left East Bengal after Partition, and was later renamed after the freedom fighter Chittaranjan Das, according to IANS and The Pioneer. The Kali Mandir grew with the colony and became its main religious and cultural focus; IANS describes it as a significant religious-cultural centre where puja is held regularly and Kali Puja is celebrated with special festivities.
Durga Puja at the temple follows Bengal custom closely. Wikipedia records that fresh flowers are brought from Bengal for each day of the five-day festival and that ponds in Bengal are booked in advance to supply the blue lotuses needed for the Sandhi Puja at the juncture of Ashtami and Navami. The complex has a small workshop where artisans make clay images of Durga and other goddesses.
Heritage
History of Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir
According to Wikipedia, the temple was founded in 1973 on land set aside by the then new EPDP colony, when a small Shiva temple was consecrated on a hillock at the edge of the colony; that first shrine still stands in the complex. Wikipedia and IANS date the start of the temple's Durga Puja to 1977, although a 2009 Mail Today report carried by India Today says the CR Park Kali Bari had hosted Durga Puja since 1973.
As the number of devotees grew, a larger Kali temple was built in February 1984, followed by separate temples for Shiva and Radha-Krishna, Wikipedia records; the shrines were overlaid with detailed terracotta work around 2006–2009. On 30 September 2025, during Durga Puja, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the temple around the Ashtami-Navami juncture, offered puja to Kali and joined the evening aarti; IANS reported that residents could not recall an earlier visit by a serving Prime Minister during the festival.
Architecture and sacred features
The three main temples, to Kali, Shiva and Radha-Krishna, are built in the Bengal terracotta temple tradition, Wikipedia notes, and were faced with elaborate terracotta designs in the late 2000s. They stand on a small rise above the surrounding streets of Chittaranjan Park, with the original 1973 Shiva shrine preserved within the complex.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Expect very large crowds and security checks during Durga Puja and Kali Puja. The Kali Mandir Society's former website now points to unrelated content, so confirm current darshan times and festival arrangements locally or through the society before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir
Durga Puja
The temple's five-day Durga Puja, held since the 1970s, is one of the best known in Delhi; the Sandhi Puja at the Ashtami-Navami juncture uses blue lotuses brought from Bengal, according to Wikipedia.
Kali Puja
The night worship of Kali, the temple's principal deity, celebrated with special festivities (IANS, Wikipedia).
Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati Puja
Listed by Wikipedia among the temple's regular festivals, along with Ganesh Chaturthi.
Location
How to Reach Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir
The temple is on Kali Mandir Marg in Chittaranjan Park, South Delhi. During Durga Puja the area around the temple is very crowded and vehicle entry is restricted, IANS reports, so plan to arrive on foot or by public transport at festival time.
Location: New Delhi (Chittaranjan Park), South Delhi, Delhi, India
More in Hindu temples in Delhi · Kali; with shrines of Shiva and Radha-Krishna temples · Temples in South East Delhi District
Questions
Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir: Frequently Asked Questions
When was the CR Park Kali Mandir founded?
In 1973, as a small Shiva temple on a hillock in the new colony. The larger Kali temple was built in February 1984, followed by shrines to Shiva and Radha-Krishna.
Which deities are worshipped at the Kali Mandir?
Kali, Shiva and Radha-Krishna, each in their own temple within the complex.
When did Durga Puja begin at the temple?
Wikipedia and IANS date it to 1977; a 2009 India Today (Mail Today) report gives 1973.
Who manages the temple?
The Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Society, which also runs a library and language classes.
What is the architectural style?
The shrines are built in the Bengal terracotta temple style and were covered with detailed terracotta work around 2006–2009.
Did the Prime Minister visit the CR Park Kali Mandir?
Yes. On 30 September 2025, during Durga Puja, Narendra Modi offered puja to Kali and joined the evening aarti, IANS reported.
Sources and attribution
- IANS (Indo-Asian News Service) — PM Modi takes part in Durga Puja festival at nucleus of Delhi's Bengali community (30 September 2025)
- India Today (from Mail Today) — How community pujas came about (25 September 2009)
- The Pioneer — The city welcomes Durga (11 October 2026)
- Wikipedia — Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir
Further reading: Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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