If Tritiya is any indicator, it's going to be a crowded puja this year.
Across parts of north and south Kolkata, pandal-hoppers poured on the streets from late Friday afternoon and the crowd kept swelling through the evening.
Public health experts warned about a fresh surge in Covid cases if people dropped their guard and kept mingling without wearing masks.
On Friday evening, Covid seemed to be the last thing on the minds of the revellers. A few spells of rain in parts of the city late afternoon and in the evening came as a blessing as it helped disperse the crowd and many did not venture out after that.
The thinning of the crowd during the showers helped police reorganise themselves for better crowd management on a day that witnessed heavy traffic as well.
Police officers said pandal-hoppers started crowding parts of Gariahat, Rashbehari and Behala in the south and pockets of Tallah, Hatibagan, Maniktala and Sovabazar in the north from late afternoon.
“Across parts of Singhi Park and Ekdalia Evergreen in Gariahat, the young crowd started pouring in from around 2pm,” said a senior police officer.
Near several key intersections, pedestrian channels had to be created with moveable guardrails to steer pandal-hoppers and those who were out for last-minute Puja shopping.
“The crowd today kept complaining because we did not remove some of the bamboo scaffoldings from inside the pandal. These structures obstructed the view of our idol,” said Avishek Bhattacharya, of Tallah Barowari puja committee.
Friday evening meant the start of a long break for most state government employees, some of whom have decided to wrap up pandal-hopping early before leaving Kolkata to spend the holiday elsewhere.
“The crowd this Tritiya is much more than what we witnessed on Tritiya 2020,” said Sandip Chakraborty, of Badamtala Ashar Sangha in Kalighat. “Many who are fully vaccinated possibly thought it was fine to step out for some pandal-hopping. This wasn't the case last year.”
Throughout Friday, several puja committees remained busy drawing up a list of members and others who are fully vaccinated and can take part in the Puja rituals and customs.
Public health experts warned that the Covid graph had started rising in Kolkata again and people should be careful.
“There is a slow but steady rise in Covid cases. But that seems to have become unimportant. It can trigger a fresh wave which will be disastrous,” said public health expert Abhijit Chowdhury.
“Police or administration cannot ensure safety. People have to be cautious themselves.”