Authorities at Kolkata's iconic MP Birla Planetarium are pinning their hopes on favourable winter weather to drive visitor numbers and make up for a rain-disrupted first half of the financial year. The goal is to continue the steady recovery momentum following the severe downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Monsoon Rains Dampen First Half Footfall
The historic planetarium, which has been educating and fascinating audiences for over six decades, faced a significant challenge from April to October 2025. Heavy and prolonged monsoon rains led to a lower-than-expected turnout during this period. By the end of October, the venue had welcomed approximately 2.5 lakh (250,000) visitors.
To stay on a firm growth trajectory, the institution now needs to attract more than 3.5 lakh (350,000) visitors in the remaining half of the financial year. The crucial festive period between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, traditionally a time of fully booked shows, will be a key battleground in this effort.
Scaling Up Shows and a Steady Post-Pandemic Climb
MPBP curator S Datta indicated that the planetarium is prepared to be flexible to meet demand. "While we have seven shows daily at present, we may increase the count to up to 10 or even 12 if required," Datta stated. This readiness to scale operations highlights the administration's commitment to recapturing its pre-pandemic glory.
The visitor count tells a story of shock and gradual recovery. It plummeted to a mere 83,000 in 2020-21 from a pre-pandemic high of 6.9 lakh (690,000) in 2019-20. Numbers have been inching up steadily since, though the current figures are still nearly 1 lakh (100,000) short of the levels seen before Covid-19.
Datta recalled the immense popularity following a major upgrade. "When the planetarium reopened in 2017-18 with a new projection machine and system after a hiatus of three years, there was a huge craze that saw a turnout of nearly 7 lakh that year. This continued for the next two years before Covid forced a shutdown for nine months," he explained.
Hindi Shows Lead in Popularity
A key insight into the planetarium's audience demographics guides its scheduling. Hindi shows are the most popular, driven by the fact that around 50% of visitors hail from neighbouring states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the northeastern region.
To cater to this demand, the daily schedule is strategically weighted: three shows are conducted in Hindi, compared to two each in Bengali and English. This linguistic focus is a crucial part of its appeal and outreach strategy.
In a related development, the MP Birla Institute of Fundamental Research announced a significant award. Secretary S K Daga confirmed the selection of Yashwant Gupta, distinguished professor and centre director at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics at TIFR, Pune, for its biennial award. This award, instituted in 1993, is being presented for the first time since 2019. The honour's prestigious past recipients include luminaries like Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Govind Swarup, K Kasturirangan, and APJ Abdul Kalam.
The coming months will be a critical test for the MP Birla Planetarium as it leverages the pleasant winter season to bridge the visitor gap and solidify its position as a premier scientific and cultural destination in Eastern India.
