Kolkata: Hundreds of revelers hit Park Street on Monday evening to attend the Christmas carnival on the last day of the first phase of the fest that began on Dec 19.
The festival will resume on Thursday, Dec 26, after a two-day break and continue until Dec 30.
On Monday, crowds thronged the music festival at Allen Park as well as the food stalls that lined the northern sidewalk of Park Street.
While the music belted out in Allen Park included carols and bands that drew youngsters, the wide range of food stalls serving Chinese, Indian, and Continental cuisines, as well as different types of cakes, savories, and beverages, attracted people of all ages.
At a shop serving Nepali food, including ‘Sel roti’ and ‘Leg sekuwa’, as well as momos and homemade Darjeeling-style chicken sausages, three generations of a family stood savoring the food.
“No Indian city celebrates Christmas like Kolkata, and no place is better than Park Street to soak in the festive atmosphere. I came to Park Street since the early 1950s, and the charm of Christmas celebration has grown over the years. What used to be restricted to the dining joints earlier has become more democratic now, and people from all walks of life can come and partake of the fun,” said Surajit Karmakar, 81, from Dum Dum. He was in Park Street with his son Sukumar, 55, and grandson Snehasish, 22.
Stall owner Stephen Pradhan, who hails from Sonada in Darjeeling, is thrilled with this year’s response.
“The turnout this year is much more than last year. We are looking forward to the business after the two-day pause when the huge crowd build-up forces the festival to go into the break,” he said.
College-goers Rimjhim Sen, Sayantani Sil, and Arup De, all of whom hail from the districts and are spending their first Christmas in Kolkata, were blown away by the spirit of Park Street.
“I have seen photographs of the lit-up Park Street. But I never imagined it to be so charming. The atmosphere is mind-blowing,” gushed Sen, with the others nodding in eager agreement.
Augustin Sarkar, who set up a stall for the first time in Park Street, said while Park Street always drew the crowd around Christmas, blogs and Instagram reels made the place even more irresistible.
The festival will resume on Thursday, Dec 26, after a two-day break and continue until Dec 30.
On Monday, crowds thronged the music festival at Allen Park as well as the food stalls that lined the northern sidewalk of Park Street.
While the music belted out in Allen Park included carols and bands that drew youngsters, the wide range of food stalls serving Chinese, Indian, and Continental cuisines, as well as different types of cakes, savories, and beverages, attracted people of all ages.
At a shop serving Nepali food, including ‘Sel roti’ and ‘Leg sekuwa’, as well as momos and homemade Darjeeling-style chicken sausages, three generations of a family stood savoring the food.
“No Indian city celebrates Christmas like Kolkata, and no place is better than Park Street to soak in the festive atmosphere. I came to Park Street since the early 1950s, and the charm of Christmas celebration has grown over the years. What used to be restricted to the dining joints earlier has become more democratic now, and people from all walks of life can come and partake of the fun,” said Surajit Karmakar, 81, from Dum Dum. He was in Park Street with his son Sukumar, 55, and grandson Snehasish, 22.
Stall owner Stephen Pradhan, who hails from Sonada in Darjeeling, is thrilled with this year’s response.
“The turnout this year is much more than last year. We are looking forward to the business after the two-day pause when the huge crowd build-up forces the festival to go into the break,” he said.
College-goers Rimjhim Sen, Sayantani Sil, and Arup De, all of whom hail from the districts and are spending their first Christmas in Kolkata, were blown away by the spirit of Park Street.
“I have seen photographs of the lit-up Park Street. But I never imagined it to be so charming. The atmosphere is mind-blowing,” gushed Sen, with the others nodding in eager agreement.
Augustin Sarkar, who set up a stall for the first time in Park Street, said while Park Street always drew the crowd around Christmas, blogs and Instagram reels made the place even more irresistible.
