Kolkata's iconic Park Street witnessed a familiar yet staggered rhythm of celebrations on New Year's Eve, with crowds building up steadily as midnight approached, following a relatively quiet morning. The pattern across the city revealed a shift from the Christmas Day frenzy, with many choosing to celebrate closer to home.
From Quiet Mornings to Midnight Magic
The morning of December 31st saw a noticeable dip in the crowd barometer on the famous party street, a contrast to the tsunami of visitors seen on Christmas. Factors like the day being a working Wednesday, the prevailing chill, and localised celebrations in neighbourhoods contributed to the initial lull. However, as the clock inched towards midnight, revellers defied the cold and surged in, with significant crowds building up near Allen Park and the Park Hotel area.
Vendors along the street did swift business in the afternoon, selling festive gear like Santa caps, Devil's horns, headbands, and decorative eyewear. Unlike the Christmas shutdown, vehicles were allowed on Park Street well into the night, causing minor congestion. Undeterred, those in cars played loud music, with some even stepping out onto the street to dance.
City-Wide Celebrations and Footfall Figures
The celebratory spirit was not confined to Park Street alone. As the day progressed, other parts of Kolkata came alive. Diners lined up at restaurants on Sarat Bose Road and Purna Das Road, while party hubs in Patuli, Lake Town, and Kasba thronged with people.
Traditional year-end attractions also teemed with visitors, though numbers were reportedly lower than on Christmas Day. Key footfall data for Wednesday included: Alipore Zoo with 27,844 visitors, Eco Park logging 23,100, Victoria Memorial seeing 21,496, and Science City attracting 10,900 people. The Alipore Museum, Wax Museum, and Aircraft Museum, being newer attractions, also drew crowds. Authorities expect these counts to shoot up further on New Year's Day.
Revellers' Experiences and Police Management
For many, like Golf Green resident Kanika Mukherjee, the Park Street tradition held strong. "I celebrate New Year with my friends on Park Street. I went to the office in the morning and, after work, some of us friends met at Park Street for dinner," she said. The crowd also included people from other districts, like trader Suman Santra from Midnapore and Shilpa Mallick from Ranaghat, both experiencing a Park Street midnight for the first time.
However, several regulars who used to flock to Park Street from the morning chose to skip it this time, citing vibrant celebrations in their own localities. Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar City Police noted that improved traffic and crowd management strategies this year facilitated steady dispersal and prevented excessive crowding. The initial moderate turnout was a boon for restaurants, allowing easier access, though popular joints still saw long queues.
As student Anjan Dey from Baghajatin, who chose Sreebhumi over Park Street, summed up, the city offered multiple vibrant options, from the classic charm of Park Street to the growing appeal of local hubs, ensuring Kolkatans rang in 2025 with joy spread across its neighbourhoods.
