With Christmas just around the corner, the city of Kolkata has transformed into a vibrant hub of festive energy. Over the past weekend, churches, neighbourhoods, and markets across the metropolis buzzed with activity as final preparations for the grand celebration reached their peak.
Markets and Malls Overflow with Festive Cheer
The last weekend before the big day saw crowded malls and markets across the city. The air was filled with the inviting aroma of freshly baked plum cakes and the glow of colourful lights. A special Christmas Market on Lindsay Street attracted heavy footfall on Saturday morning. Shoppers enthusiastically browsed stalls selling festive treats, ornaments, and decorations, including reindeer figurines, Nativity scene sets, and Santa dolls.
Families and young people were seen picking up stars, lights, and various Christmas knick-knacks to adorn their homes. At the iconic SS Hogg Market, long queues formed in the aisles selling bakery products, with customers patiently waiting to buy plum cakes, pastries, and cookies.
Traditional Bakeries and the Christmas Carnival Draw Crowds
The festive momentum received a significant boost with the inauguration of the Christmas Carnival by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last week. The carnival kicked off on Saturday at Allen Park on Park Street and the historic Anglo-Indian enclave of Bow Barracks. These locations came alive with food stalls, music, Christmas programmes, community gatherings, and joyful carols, drawing visitors from all over Kolkata.
Local vendors like Janice Lee of Pou Chong Kim from Tiretta Bazaar set up stalls at Park Street, selling popular items like egg popup rolls, chilli chicken popcorn, and fish ball soup, reporting a huge crowd of revellers.
The demand for decorations was palpable. At Hollywood Paper Decorations, the owners reported selling four Santa Claus figures on Saturday alone, noting the visible excitement among people wanting to make their homes and shops look special.
Meanwhile, legendary bakeries like Nahoum and Sons and the nearly 150-year-old Imperial Bakers and Confectioners have seen long queues of customers since mid-December. Proprietor Sheikh Parvez Rahman of Imperial expressed his happiness, stating, "People wait patiently for our traditional Christmas cakes every year... Christmas brings a special warmth to the city."
Churches Decked Up for Spiritual Celebrations
Across the city, churches have been beautifully adorned with lights and decorations in preparation for midnight mass and special prayers. Reverend Father Biswajit Biswas of St Mary's Church on Elgin Road highlighted the dual significance of the season. "Christmas is a time of deep spiritual meaning as well as great joy," he said. "We have made special arrangements for prayers and midnight mass so that people can come together in peace, prayer, and thanksgiving. The church has been decorated to reflect the joy of the birth of Christ."
The collective efforts of communities, markets, and religious institutions have woven a tapestry of warmth, joy, and tradition, firmly placing Kolkata in full festive mode as it eagerly awaits Christmas Day.
