Kolkata Christmas Pageant 2022 kicks off amid fanfare

Christmas is likely one of the main festivals in Bengal. Underneath the aegis of West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, Kolkata Christmas Pageant was initiated in 2011 by the tourism division of the Authorities of West Bengal, in affiliation with the Christian neighborhood. This yr heralds the twelfth version of the carnival which was inaugurated by Ms. Banerjee on December 21. Organized by the Division of Tourism, Authorities of West Bengal in affiliation with Kolkata Municipal Company, Kolkata Police, Data and Tradition Division and Apeejay Surrendra Group. The dignitaries current on the inaugural occasion included Archbishop of Kolkata Thomas D’Souza, Bishop of the Calcutta Diocese of the Church of North India (CNI) Paritosh Canning, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brian; West Bengal minister of tourism Babul Supriyo, Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, West Bengal Minorities’ Fee vice-chairman Shane Calvert, Chief Secretary, Dr Harikrishna Trivedi, House Secretary B.P. Gopalika, Commissioner of Police Vineet Kumar Goyal and Secretary of Tourism Division Dr Soumitra Mohun.

The hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal inaugurated the occasion at 4.30 pm yesterday. The pageant will proceed until December 27. State Tourism Minister Babul Supriyo sang ‘Vishwapita Tumi O Prabhu’ and ‘Aguner Parshmani’. In her inaugural handle, the Chief Minister reminded the viewers that “folks right here observe completely different religions, however come collectively to have fun throughout varied festivals.…. We would like peace to prevail in the whole world. West Bengal is a state the place persons are not divided on the idea of their non secular identification. We do not imagine in separatism. That is why we come collectively to have fun all festivals collectively. We’re the primary within the nation to start our celebrations days forward of Christmas.”

Park Road is all lit up for the Kolkata Christmas Pageant. The themed lighting begins from St. Xavier’s School on Park Road and stretches as much as Jawaharlal Nehru Street at one finish and the Mullickbazar crossing on the opposite. The realm round St. Paul’s Cathedral on Cathedral Street has additionally been lit up. Artisans from Chandannagar had been commissioned to do the ornament for the carnival.  The illuminations shall be up until the primary week of January to commemorate the essence of the pageant. 

 

Bo-Barracks has been added to the twelfth version of the occasion this yr and the whole stretch is illuminated. As one enters the slim lane between Hare Road and Bowbazar Police Station, one can see rows of pink homes on each side of the street. Bow-barracks is all brightly lit up. In addition to, an enormous Christmas tree and a figurine of Santa Claus have additionally been arrange that entice guests getting into the lane. Truffles and pink wine are being bought on one aspect of the slim lane. Shane Calvert, vice-chairman of the West Bengal Minorities Fee, mentioned, “The lights within the Bow-Barracks shall be remote-controlled this yr. We wish to spotlight the precise great thing about the Anglo-Indian lifestyle.”

Just like the earlier years, this yr too, the evenings will see performances and choral shows from town’s finest choirs — church teams, youth bands and extra adopted by the principle performances. Michael Shane Calvert, chief coordinator of the Kolkata Christmas Pageant, mentioned, “Guests from completely different components of the nation talking various languages throng the pageant. So, retaining everybody in thoughts, the carols shall be sung in English, Hindi, Bengali and Nepali languages.”

The musical occasions are being held at Allen Park like yearly. Cultural programmes  are being hosted from December 21 to December 30, besides on December 24 and 25 when Allen Park shall be closed. The Buskers’ Musical programme are being held on Camac Road from December 21 to December 23, 6pm to 8pm. 

Christmas is likely one of the main festivals of Kolkata. Numerous folks, no matter caste, creed and faith, take part within the celebrations. Christmas pageant is again in all its glory and grandeur this yr after two years of low-key celebrations due to the pandemic. The short-term meals stalls, which weren’t arrange in the course of the previous two Christmases due to the pandemic, have made a comeback this yr. There are round 30 meals stalls the place the guests can get pleasure from not simply Christmas muffins and goodies, however all kinds of cuisines, together with Chinese language, Goan and Anglo Indian. For many who can’t go to Park Road, can watch the goings on through Fb Stay streaming.

The pageant will not be going to be concentrated within the metropolis alone however have been organized within the districts as properly.  Church buildings in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Chandannagar, Bandel, Krishnanagar and Baruipur and police commissionerates in Alipurduar, Asansol, Howrah, Bidhannagar and Jhargram have additionally been illuminated. Equally, Park Road and Bow-Barracks will stay illuminated until January 10. Throughout Christmas holidays, the footfalls at Alipore Zoo, Victoria Memorial, Birla Planetarium, Indian Museum, Nico Park, and so on. stay very excessive. Due to this fact, within the final week of December, the state transport division is taking particular measures to deal with the large crowd anticipated this yr.

Picture :Olini Mukherjee