With the first nip in the air each year, there is only one question on the minds of every Kolkatan.
‘When will the Park Street lights come on?’
It is that time of the year again, as the Kolkata Christmas Festival is finally underway, with the city’s party street gleaming like a new bride. My Kolkata takes you to the inauguration ceremony at Allen Park on December 19, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee signalled the start of the festivities.
The event was inaugurated by several dignitaries including chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Archbishop of Kolkata Reverend Thomas D’Souza, and the bishop of Kolkata Reverend Paritosh Canning
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries from the city, including mayor Firhad Hakim, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, state tourism minister Indranil Sen, archbishop of Kolkata Reverend Thomas D’Souza, and the bishop of Kolkata Reverend Paritosh Canning. The state information and cultural affairs department, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata police and the Apeejay Surrendra Group ensured that the scale of the festival was even grander this year.
Emceeing for the programme, O’Brien said: “The idea behind this event came from chief minister Mamata Banerjee back in 2011, when she told me to do something special for Christmas. Since then, the entire state has joined hands every year to take things up a notch, and we’re delighted to be inaugurating its 14th edition today,” he beamed.
Archbishop D’Souza blessed the crib of Jesus, while calling for people to use Christmas as an opportunity to unite across communities and religions. “These Christmas lights have the potential to drive away the darkness both inside and outside us. They are a reminder that God sent his only Son to this world because he loves us, and this love needs to bind us together,” he added.
This was followed by the CM remotely inaugurating the Darjeeling Melo-Tea Festival and Police Hill Marathon 2024, which has become one of the largest events at the hill town. The ceremony coincided with the illumination of 14 churches across Bengal, including districts such as Jhargram, Nadia, Purulia and Alipurduar, which the CM also inaugurated remotely. “Upon its inception, the Kolkata Christmas Festival was restricted to Kolkata. But today, it has spread to all of Bengal,” O’Brien said.
‘Christmas stands for love, peace and kindness,’ said Mamata
Bishop Canning urged those who felt dejected to embrace Christmas as a beacon of hope. “Even if you feel that you have nothing going for you, Jesus will be by your side if you remember Him. Take His name, and He will solve all your problems,” he smiled.
The chief minister lauded the spirit of the Bishop and Archbishop, expressing her gratitude to them for ensuring that the spirit of Christmas continued to thrive in the city. She added that the roots of the Kolkata Christmas Carnival were sown much earlier, owing to her own fascination with the Midnight Mass, which she would attend every Christmas Eve. “This event is a reminder of how the people of West Bengal love all religions and celebrate the festivals as their own. Over the next few days, I urge everyone to enjoy the lovely festive food from stalls lining Park Street, and enjoy the musical performances at Allen Park that will be open to everyone for free,” she said.
Allen Park has retained its classic touches like (left) the giant Christmas tree outside the entrance, the crib of Jesus
The CM also shared a Christmas-themed song that she had written and composed, before joining Sen for an impromptu duet rendition of Biswapita Tumi Hey Prabhu. “This has almost become our yearly ritual, and is symbolic of our commitment to Christmas as the cultural capital of the country,” Sen added.
Apart from the signature illuminations at Park Street, Allen Park, St Paul’s Cathedral and Bow Barracks, the prominent edifices around West Bengal will be illuminated, including churches at Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Asansol, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Chandannagar, Bandel, Krishnanagar, Jhargram, Purulia, Baruipur, Alipurduar, Howrah and Bidhannagar.
