Kolkata Christmas Carnival starts at Allen Park with huge fanfare

As the chilly winter sets upon Kolkata, the city warmed up to the inauguration of the 9th Kolkata Christmas Carnival yesterday that will continue in various hues till the year end (30th December). West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, while lighting the lamp and addressing the excited city revelers passed on the message of love, joy and unity. For Kolkata, Christmas is not just a festival for Christians, rather the whole city and districts of Bengal gear up to celebrate the yuletide spirit. For that is the ethos of Bengal, far from the politics of hatred, the land of Rabindranath Tagore, where people from all religions and communities are welcome.

Other than Hon’ble CM, Anglo Indian MLA Michael Shein Calvert, MP Derek O’Brien, Minister of State Tourism and I&C, Indranil Sen, Principal Secretary Tourism, Nandini Chakraborty, Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and Archbishop of Assembly of God Church, Fr. Thomas were also present on the podium. Children from Assembly of God Church School and other missionary schools were dressed in white gowns as part of the ceremony. For the first time Kolkata Christmas Festival this year hosted the sisters of Loreto Convent who performed Christmas carols.