How Hindu Goddess Kali Became Sara-la-Kali: Patron Saint Of Romani People

For many, the story of the Romani people begins at Europe's borders, often framed through centuries of displacement, discrimination, and folklore. But their roots run much deeper, tracing all the way back to South Asia, where their ancestors once walked as devotees of Shaktism, an ancient form of Hindu spirituality centred around the worship of the feminine divine.

From Kali to Sara-la-Kali: A Syncretic Transformation 

In the 11th century, as the Romani moved through Persia and into Europe, their traditions adapted to the cultural and religious contexts they encountered. In Southern France, near the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, emerged a figure named Sara-la-Kali, now venerated as a saint. According to local legend, she was a servant, or companion, of the Three Marys who arrived by boat from the Holy Land during the early days of Christian persecution. To the Romani, however, Sara wasn't just a helper; she was a protector, a spiritual anchor.

Over time, many scholars and cultural historians believe she became associated with their ancestral goddess, Kali. This connection isn't only symbolic. Each year during the pilgrimage in May, Romani pilgrims gather to celebrate Sara-la-Kali by carrying her idol into the sea, a ritual that mirrors Hindu practices where statues of Durga or Kali are immersed in water during major festivals. The act, rich in symbolism, reflects purification, renewal, and spiritual offering, much like what the Romani once practised in India.

The Patron Saint Of The Displaced

Sara-la-Kali's dark complexion, her protective nature, and her deep association with both suffering and resilience strongly parallel the attributes of Maa Kali. The dark-skinned Hindu goddess slowly merged into a figure known today as Sara-la-Kali, or Sara-the-Black. What unfolded over centuries wasn't the erasure of their spiritual roots, but their transformation.

Just as Maa Kali was revered for her strength in the face of darkness, Sara is remembered by the Romani as a guiding force during their historical struggles, including exclusion and marginalisation across Europe.

A Hindu goddess became a Christian saint, not through rejection, but adaptation. Through Sara, Kali lived on, her essence shaped by memory, story, and survival. Today, Saint Sara isn't only a religious symbol. She's a powerful cultural thread connecting the Romani to their Indian heritage and their long journey across continents.