East India is a region of India consisting of the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Orissa. It is geographically between North India and North-East India, and shares many cultural and linguistic characteristics with Bangladesh, which formed part of this region before Partition. The Indo-Aryan languages spoken in this region descend from the Magadhi Prakrits spoken in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. Of these, Magadhi and Oriya, which remain virtually unchanged for over a thousand years, are considered the most direct descendants. Durga and Jagannath are particularly popular deities in this region. Puri is the eastern center for pilgrimage in Hinduism, and Bhubaneswar is considered to be the city of temples.

West Bengal's capital Kolkata is the biggest metropolis of the region. However, the cities of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri in Orissa, and Bihar's capital Patna, were historically more prominent. Kaali is regarded as one of the principal deities of Bengal. There are other temples to Kaali - Sahasrabhuja Kaali, Sarvamangala, Tarasundari and Simhavaahini. Kaali is regarded as the destroyer or liberator and is depicted in a fearful form. Despite the terrifying form, she is considered to deliver bliss to worshippers. The Kalighat temple attracts numerous devotees throughout the year.

Kalighat is regarded as one of the 52 Shakti Peethams of India, where the various parts of Sati's body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shiva's Rudra Tandava. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell. (see Daksha Yagna).

The Kamakhya Temple in Assam The Kamakhya Temple in Assam is one of the most venerated Shakti shrines in India, and is regarded as one of the Shakti Peethams associated with the legend of Shiva and Daksha Yagna.

Kamakhya is located on a hill - Neelachala Parvat or Kamagiri near the city of Guwahati in Assam. Shakti, residing on the Kamagiri hill is known as Kamakhya, the granter of desires. Assam traditionally has been known as the Kamarupa Desa and has been associated with Tantric practices and Shakti worship.