Kolkata Christmas Carnival 2023
Kolkata Christmas Festival, 2023
Every year they get bigger and brighter – the Christmas lights swaying in the northerly winds as winter sets in with great aplomb in the City of Joy. And with that kickstarts the dazzling fervour on the street that never sleeps – the Park Street. The bright Christmas Markets of Entally and Esplanade had been in operation month long, with thousands thronging to buy decorations and order their Christmas special cakes, some at the century old outlets running since the days of the Raj. And then comes the famous Kolkata Christmas Carnival, turning the whole area and even far-fetched lanes and bylanes of Kolkata into a magical retreat.
From Allen Park to St. Paul’s Cathedral Church to the adjoining areas, the illuminations continue till the New Year and create a festive aura around the city, something even foreign tourists and NRIs visiting the city enjoy at their peak.
It was under the aegis of West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, Kolkata Christmas Festival was initiated in 2011 by the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal in association with Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Police, Information and Culture Department and Apeejay Surendra Group, the Kolkata Christmas Festival is now a much sought after celebration in India.
Hon'ble Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal
This year, on the 21st of December, the Christmas Carnival was inaugurated by Honourable Chief Minister in the presence of Minister of State for Tourism and Information and Cultural Affairs, Sri. Indranil Sen along with other ministers, senior government bureaucrats and notable dignitaries from the Christian community.
Not just the Christmas lights and Christmas markets, the carnival will be enriched with cultural performances. After all Kolkata is considered as the culture capital of India. Cultural programmes have been scheduled this year too between 21st December - 30th December (except 24th & 25th December, when the Allen Park will remain closed).Carols, music from jazz to sweet melodies of Christmas songs of yesteryears vibrating through the tapestry of light and stars, happen to be an attractive addition to the festival. Like the previous years, this year too, the evenings will see performances and presentations from the city’s best choirs — church groups, youth bands and more followed by the main performances. Visitors from different parts of the country speaking diverse languages throng the festival. So, keeping everyone in mind, the carols are usually sung in English, Hindi, Bengali and Nepali languages.
Sri Indranil Sen,Tourism Minister, West Bengal
This year Bo-Barracks and the Camac Street stretch has been illuminated too. As one enters the narrow lane between Hare Street and Bowbazar Police Station, one can see rows of red houses on both sides of the road. Bow-barracks is the last remnant of once-thriving Anglo- Indian community of the city. The giant Christmas tree and a figurine of Santa Claus have also been set up that attract visitors entering the lane. Cakes and red wine are being sold on one side of the narrow lane. And mind you these cakes are mostly home-made with recipes running down generations, attracting the best taste and aroma at a pocket friendly price, along with a wide variety of cuisines, including Chinese, Goan and Anglo Indian, suited to the taste-buds of all.
The districts are also not far behind. Illumination of prominent parts of West Bengal, including the churches of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Asansol, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Chandannagar, Bandel, Krishnanagar, Jhargram, Purulia, Baruipur, Alipurduar, Howrah and Bidhananagarhas been made to spread the festive spirit all across the state.
Tourism Department Information kiosk & first aid stall will be installed inside Allen Park during the Kolkata Christmas Festival. West Bengal is a state where people are not divided on the basis of their religious identity.
The State Government of West Bengal is the first in the country to begin our celebrations, days ahead of Christmas. This year too is no exception.
