‘Probashis’ share why Christmas in Kolkata is the ultimate homecoming

While Durga Puja is traditionally thought about as the time of ‘homecoming’ for probashis around the world, the call from home is just as compelling on Christmas, if not more. My Kolkata speaks to some of the city’s residents, who migrated, on why Boro Din still beckons to them like nothing else.

Ananya Rakshit, a communication design student at Symbiosis Institute of Design in Pune, confesses that a major reason why people come back is the intense bout of loneliness that hits during holidays when people live alone. “As I navigate my final year of university, I do feel a growing anxiety about not being able to visit home as often in the years to come. It also makes me cherish this celebration connecting me to Kolkata, awakening the magical part of my inner child and keeping my spirits high,” she says. For now, she is excited to drive through Park Street at night, and make 6am plans with her friends in the chilling cold.

Vish Gain, a journalist based in Dublin, Ireland, just returned home after a year away, and has been spending it trying to catch up on all his favourite things in the city. “I always thought Christmas was magical in Europe, until I moved there and realised — while still special — it’s not as wonderful as home. Christmas Day is a private affair in most European households, and as such, the city streets are empty. But in Kolkata, Christmas is arguably the most wonderful time of the year (the strong contender being Pujo) thanks to the glamour of Park Street, the cakes of Nahoum’s and Saldanha, and the carols in every other street. Above all, it’s the time spent with family that puts the star on top of my Christmas tree of a trip every December,” he beams.

Sahen Gupta, a London-based sports psychologist and columnist for My Kolkata, landed in the city just a few days ago, and is raring to make a pilgrimage to Peter Cat. “The weather is so good that it amplifies whatever you eat, especially if it’s kochuri. I love that Christmas here is a simpler time, compared to the rush of partying and year-end discos in the other cities,” he says.

For Ananda S Bandyopadhyay, a deputy director at the Gates Foundation, this trip to Kolkata was doubly special because of the poite ceremony of his children. With the rituals out of the way, he couldn’t resist dropping by Flurys. “Misty mornings with the aroma of freshly baked plum cakes, vibrant evenings with Park Street coming alive with lights and carols, and the warmth of loved ones. Christmas is a celebration of everything the endearing city has to offer at its joyful best. It’s a ‘no brainer’ for us to come back every year, all the way from Seattle to be with our friends and families over the holidays,” he says. While he confesses that times have changed and the celebrations don’t have the inherent simplicity of the ’90s, it is still extremely novel for his children. “The idea of taking our kids on an immersive, nostalgic joyride reliving our formative years compels us to travel the world and be in Kolkata during this time and make new memories that transcend generations.”

Deepanjana Bhattacharya, a schoolteacher in London, regards her annual Christmas visit back home as a bucket-list item. “It’s amazing how the festival reaches every soul, irrespective of caste, faith, age or religion. The Kolkata Santa is much closer to my heart as he can speak Bengali while distributing sweets and gifts. It’s thrilling to walk along the decked-up streets, joining carols in any nearby church, meeting close ones with freshly baked nolen gur. And who can say no to the club party nights?” said Deepanjana, who has been catching up on the city’s live music scene after arriving earlier this month.

New Jersey-based engineer Aritra Majumdar is rueing not being able to walk around the Southern Avenue-Golf Green area this year. “For me, Christmas holidays are synonymous with winter, where I would drink Hajmola cha from the tea shop in my locality, and enjoy kobiraji from Mitra Cafe in Golpark. It also brings back fond memories of my university, Jadavpur University’s green zone, and the Indian Museum,” Majumdar says.

The heartache of not being able to come home for Christmas is shared by Rammya Basu, a digital marketeer based in Mumbai. For her, the mention of Christmas in Kolkata brings forth memories of buying decorations from New Market before stopping by Nahoum’s for a compulsory fruit cafe. “Living alone in Mumbai, I realised how much I miss this spirit. For me, it is equally important to meet friends for a traditional Bengali lunch on Ashtami and Christmas dinner at Bar-B-Q. Other places in the world lack Kolkata’s festive magic. It is so perfectly captured in the iconic song, December er Shohorey — an iconic tribute to the city’s pull during Christmas and wintry December, no matter where you are,” she smiles.