Pous Mela makes a comeback, heady Christmas Eve in Kolkata and other news in pictures

After a hiatus of three years, Pous Mela got off to a fresh start in Santiniketan with (top) a Brahmosangeet performance under the ‘Chhatimtola’ on Monday morning and a Baul performance in the afternoon. The fair, held on the seventh day of Bengali month ‘Pous’ which falls in late December, was first organised by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, father of Visva-Bharati founder Rabindranath Tagore, in 1894 to showcase the handicrafts, heritage and culture of Bengal, particularly Birbhum district

The 98-year-old Greek Orthodox Church in Kalighat has been lit up ahead of Christmas as a part of a citizens’ project by Mudar Patherya

Ruby Park Junior School celebrated a special Christmas assembly on December 20. The school campus was artistically adorned with Christmas trees, stockings, mistletoe, holly leaves and Santa Claus indulged the schoolchildren

A special demonstration-cum-exhibition of handicrafts is being held at the Press Club Kolkata lawns between 2pm and 9pm from December 23 to 29

Customers mill around The LaLit Great Eastern Kolkata bakery on Christmas Eve for its famous Christmas Cake

Septuagenarian Ratnabali Ghosh (right) and another artist draw alpona designs on the floor of Sacred Heart Church and Greek Orthodox Church, respectively, on Christmas Eve, as a part of a project by Mudar Patherya. For the last three years, Ghosh sometimes on her own and sometimes with an associate, has been creating pieces of art using the traditional alpona in Kolkata

Seagulls fly over the Muri Ganga river near Sagar Islands on Tuesday

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has installed mobile toilets opposite Allen Park near the Park Street-Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road-Wood Street crossing for revellers hitting the party street on Xmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day