Kolkata is a city of heritage and culture. People of all religions and faiths live here and enjoy in harmony. Though Kolkata sounds synonymous to Durga Puja, it can also surprise people with its Christmas grandeur. A very popular area in Kolkata, Park Street is the place where people from all around the country gather to enjoy Christmas. It takes a carnivalesque look during this time of the year.
It is the time of the year when the city gets decked up in Christmas attire. Almost everyone can be seen wearing Santa Claus caps and clicking selfies and groupies while enjoying Christmas celebration in Kolkata. Park Street itself seems like a party venue with food stalls and open-air musical parties all throughout the Christmas week. Presents get stacked under the Christmas trees and they get decked up in finery. Roasted turkey and cocktails become the theme of the dinner parties.
People have imbibed the spirit of Christmas so much in the city that no one wants to miss out on this grand occasion. Moreover, it is the season of homecoming as well. It’s not just the city, but one can feel the festive mood once they step in the airport. Even the airport gets decked up in the yuletide spirit.
Reasons to be in Park Street for Christmas:
There are many places in the country to soak in the festive spirit. However, no one can match the Park Street Christmas Carnival. Here are some of the reasons as to why Park Street Carnival stands above the rest:
Eateries take a frenzied look: There are a number of restaurants in the Park Street area which remain relatively calm throughout the year but, just when the Christmas season kicks in, it gets buzzing. The food and drink stalls teem with frenzied revelers. Park Street’s Allen Park gets a festive makeover. You can hardly find any place to stand. The same situation unfolds in heritage restaurants and bistros like Mocambo, Flury’s, Bistro, Bar-B-Q which remains choc-a-bloc to savor in different delicacies.
The serene beauty of St. Paul’s Cathedral: St. Paul’s Cathedral was built in 1847. It is the oldest church of Kolkata. It is mainly noted for its Gothic architecture. During Christmas, it gets a festive look. The midnight mass attracts hundreds of people across all faiths and religion. Prominent personalities from different walks of life attend the holy mass at midnight. People, however, can be seen outside the church also, completely immersed in watching the serene beauty of the church and the portraits of Mother Mary and infant Jesus in her lap. Nobody can tell whether it is midnight or evening.
Duration of the Festival: The Park Street Christmas Carnival lasts for about 2 weeks. It is inaugurated a week before Christmas usually by the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The flow of people increases over the days before finally culminating on the 2nd of January. The organizers starting from West Bengal Tourism Development Authority to Kolkata Police play a pivotal role in managing the revelers. A parade by school children is normally followed by a performance by the Army and Police Band on any of the days of the carnival. Also, there is more bonanza for revelers as every night there will be musical performances by different band parties and choir groups.
Lights: Christmas without lights look dull. Park Street thumps every locality when it comes to decorations in lights. From the entrance to Park Street right to St. Paul’s Cathedral, one can find the entire stretch decked up in overhead rice lights or tiny bulbs which further adds to the glory of the festival. Earlier it used to be illuminated till Chowringhee but now it has been extended to St. Paul’s Cathedral to let people enjoy the yuletide spirit.
The Buskers create harmony: We don’t see people today performing live street performances in the city as it’s considered either down in stature or simply out of vogue. However, the magic of live street performances by the Buskers can be seen exclusively at the Park Street Christmas Celebration in Kolkata. Usually, it takes place on the 25th evening and also on New Year’s Day. The harmony created by the songs draws in crowds who gather to listen to them singing.
However, it is not just Park Street that decks up in Christmas attire. Places like Bow Barracks in the vicinity also draws a sizeable population. A place not to forget is Nahoum’s. This Jewish cake shop located right in New Market is the flavor of cakes during Christmas in the city.
Christmas celebration in Kolkata is incomplete without buying Christmas Trees and decorating them in Christmas decor along with a Santa Claus replica. All the landmarks throng with people across all ages at the iconic city landmarks. Not just that, virtually every district in West Bengal gets decked up to celebrate Christmas. However, Park Street Christmas Carnival is that annual extravaganza which you can’t miss after Durga Puja in the City of Joy.
