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tales of such 'thengaariyaa fields' or 'Dakate Kali' can be heard in villages. This is because every moment of their travel was beset with the fear of losing their lives at the hands of the 'dakats' or the ' thengaariyaa'/' thengare' (staff wielding murderous gangs). In those days, if any distant village were to be visited, the villagers would usually leave home only after making their ' wills' or having made permanent arrangements for their lands and property. The very name of these dakats evoked terror in the hearts and minds of the common people. Some of these old Kali images/idols have survived the ravages of 'father time' and are still being wroshipped, though for reasons other than those originally intended. be it peoples' houses, highways or raiding entire villages. meaning: the idol of Ma Kali worshipped by the 'dakats'/'dakaits'/dakus') before embarking on a 'mission'. They had the habit of worshipping ' Dakate Kali' (Dakait Kali. to hide their weapons, equipments and treasures) in the forests/woods. Many of these dakats lived (for a while, when they went into hiding, that is) and/or hid their looted treasures (' guptodhon') or had their ' adda' (permanent base. these 'thieves' and 'robbers' or the chors/dakats of yore had their own Kali. and even contains a story of the legendary 18th century dacoit/brigand, Raghu Dakat ('dakat' is bangla for 'dacoit' or 'daku'). Here is a compilation of 20 stories, " Bengal Dacoits and Tigers" by the Maharanee Sunity Devee, C.I. please visit my earlier post: " Tales of Dacoits and one unique story. To read one such story titled, " Girl as Kali-Ma". Infact, many dacoits would not rob anything from a house where goddess Kali was worshipped. overwhelmed with devotion and fear, would cry out, " Maa! Maa!" (O Mother! O Mother!) and, making obeisance before the "goddess", leave the place. completely bare, with their thick, long, dark tresses left untied and flying, a 'chopper' or sword in hand to repel these dacoits. some dark-complexioned wives or daughters or daughters-in-law of a rich farmer/goldsmith/merchant/zamindar (landlord) would stride forth. of the advantage taken of these dacoit's devotion towards Ma Kali.
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Many stories are heard in this region (Bengal). Before leaving for any 'mission', they would worship Kali. Devotion to Ma Kali: These 'dakats' were extremely devoted to Goddess Kali.