The city of Kolkata becomes a lively place during festive seasons. All Indian festivals are celebrated in the city with cordiality. The major festivals observed in the city include Durga Puja, Kali Puja, SaraswatiPuja, Eid and Christmas. Apart from these religious festivals, the city also hosts several trade and technological fairs. Various cultural festivals like National TheatreFestival, Jatra Festival, Calcutta Film Festival and music conferences are also organized in the city to encourage cultural genius of the country. |
Religious Festivals
Poila Baisakh
Poila Baisakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar. It marks the beginning of a crop cycle in West Bengal and is considered as the most appropriate time for marriage. On this day, people wear new clothes and present sweets to their friends and relatives. Special cultural programmes are held in different parts of the city. A procession called ‘Prabhat Pheri’ is held early in the morning to welcome the New Year.
Durga Puja
The festival of Durga Puja brings in rejoice and festivity in West
Bengal. The festival usually falls in the month of October for which the preparations begin in September itself. All Bengalis wear new clothes and prepare delicious foods to observe the festival with a new style.
It was on this day that Durga was assigned the task of eliminating evil. The familiar pose of Goddess Durga unleashing her wrath on an out powered demon can be seen in the form of idols. The idols are made from clay, Bamboo, Jute, Straw and paints. The five day long festival comes to an end on the day of Dusherra when people arrange to burn the statue of Ravana. Legend goes that Ravana performed Durga Puja despite the time of the year not being right. Click here for more…
Kali Puja
Kali puja is celebrated every where in the city. This festival usually comes in the month of November. The importance of observing this festival is to propitiate Goddess Kali who is believed to be the destructor of all hostile forces.The festival brings rejoice among all people in the city.
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr, popularly known as the "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast", is celebrated as soon as the new moon is sighted at the end of the month of fasting i.e. Ramadan. Special food and delicacies are prepared for the day and are presented to neighbors and friends. The Muslims of Kolkata celebrate Id-ul-Fitr with great enthusiasm. Click here for more…
Saraswati Puja
On the eve of Saraswati Puja, girls dress in yellow saris to emulate Goddess Saraswati. The Puja is basically observed in schools and colleges with idols of Saraswati, who is believed to be the Goddess of Education and Arts in Indian mythology, making the festival special for students. Students pray to the divine Mother for their success in studies and wish for a bright future.
Click here for more...
Shivratri
This is a festival observed in honor of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati. This is an important day for the devotees of Lord Shiva, who stay awake throughout the night, praying to him. It is a grand occasion for the people of Kolkata. From the very early morning, Shiva temples are thronged with devotees, mostly women, who come to perform the traditional worship of the Shivalinga. Click here for more…
Muharram
The festival commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson- Hazrat Imam Hussein. It is celebrated with great fervour by the Muslims of the city especially the Shia community. Tazias, glittering replicas of the Martyr's tomb, are carried in procession through the streets. Click here for more…
Christmas
Each year, on the eve of Christmas, millions of homes across Kolkata are decorated with Christmas trees and fairy lights. Christmas is celebrated in the Kolkata with love and enthusiasm. The St Paul Cathedral of the city is decorated with candles and electrical bulbs to make the surrounding more vivacious. Click here for more…
ISKCON Rathayatra
The Rathayatra or Car Festival is high spot of the year for all ecstatic devotees of Lord Krishna in Kolkata. The festival is celebrated all over the city but one on a grand scale in Kolkata is organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON). Idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra are taken out on chariots on Albert Road to the strip of Maidan bordering the Victoria Memorial. After seven days, these are taken back to the temple again and the day is known as Bahuda Yatra.
Modern Fairs & Festivals
Dover Lane Music Conference
The Dover Lane Music Conference initially started as a small get together of some music lovers in the lanes of Kolkata. But as time flew, it became the biggest musical event in Kolkata. The festival is organized at Nazrul Mancha every year between January 22 and 26. Renowned classical singers from various parts of India come here to participate in the mega musical event.
Calcutta Book Fair
Calcutta Book Fair is one of the largest book fairs in the country held every year from the end of January till early February. This 12-day long Book Fair is held over a large area of the Maidan near the crossing of Chowringhee and Park Street.
Calcutta Film Festival
The Calcutta film festival is organized every year between November 10th and November 17th. It is a gala event, representing films in various theatres and is attended by large crowds of film lovers.
National Theatre Festival
National theatre festival is probably the biggest event in the Indian Theatre Calendar. It isorganized between 16 and 25 December every year. Usually, the festival is held at the Academy of Fine Arts attracting thousands of theatre lovers from various parts of the country and also from abroad.
Jatra Festival
Jatra is a form of entertainment, exclusive in Bengal and Orissa. A month-long festival of Jatra shows is held at Rabindra Kanan, Chitpur during the months of December and January. Various Jatra groups of Bengal and Orissa participate in this festival to demonstrate their talents.
Poila Baisakh
Poila Baisakh is the first day of the Bengali calendar. It marks the beginning of a crop cycle in West Bengal and is considered as the most appropriate time for marriage. On this day, people wear new clothes and present sweets to their friends and relatives. Special cultural programmes are held in different parts of the city. A procession called ‘Prabhat Pheri’ is held early in the morning to welcome the New Year.
Durga Puja
The festival of Durga Puja brings in rejoice and festivity in West
Bengal. The festival usually falls in the month of October for which the preparations begin in September itself. All Bengalis wear new clothes and prepare delicious foods to observe the festival with a new style.It was on this day that Durga was assigned the task of eliminating evil. The familiar pose of Goddess Durga unleashing her wrath on an out powered demon can be seen in the form of idols. The idols are made from clay, Bamboo, Jute, Straw and paints. The five day long festival comes to an end on the day of Dusherra when people arrange to burn the statue of Ravana. Legend goes that Ravana performed Durga Puja despite the time of the year not being right. Click here for more…
Kali Puja
Kali puja is celebrated every where in the city. This festival usually comes in the month of November. The importance of observing this festival is to propitiate Goddess Kali who is believed to be the destructor of all hostile forces.The festival brings rejoice among all people in the city.
Eid-ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr, popularly known as the "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast", is celebrated as soon as the new moon is sighted at the end of the month of fasting i.e. Ramadan. Special food and delicacies are prepared for the day and are presented to neighbors and friends. The Muslims of Kolkata celebrate Id-ul-Fitr with great enthusiasm. Click here for more…
Saraswati Puja
On the eve of Saraswati Puja, girls dress in yellow saris to emulate Goddess Saraswati. The Puja is basically observed in schools and colleges with idols of Saraswati, who is believed to be the Goddess of Education and Arts in Indian mythology, making the festival special for students. Students pray to the divine Mother for their success in studies and wish for a bright future.
Click here for more...
Shivratri
This is a festival observed in honor of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati. This is an important day for the devotees of Lord Shiva, who stay awake throughout the night, praying to him. It is a grand occasion for the people of Kolkata. From the very early morning, Shiva temples are thronged with devotees, mostly women, who come to perform the traditional worship of the Shivalinga. Click here for more…
Muharram
The festival commemorates the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson- Hazrat Imam Hussein. It is celebrated with great fervour by the Muslims of the city especially the Shia community. Tazias, glittering replicas of the Martyr's tomb, are carried in procession through the streets. Click here for more…
Christmas
Each year, on the eve of Christmas, millions of homes across Kolkata are decorated with Christmas trees and fairy lights. Christmas is celebrated in the Kolkata with love and enthusiasm. The St Paul Cathedral of the city is decorated with candles and electrical bulbs to make the surrounding more vivacious. Click here for more…
ISKCON Rathayatra
The Rathayatra or Car Festival is high spot of the year for all ecstatic devotees of Lord Krishna in Kolkata. The festival is celebrated all over the city but one on a grand scale in Kolkata is organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON). Idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra are taken out on chariots on Albert Road to the strip of Maidan bordering the Victoria Memorial. After seven days, these are taken back to the temple again and the day is known as Bahuda Yatra.Modern Fairs & Festivals
Dover Lane Music Conference
The Dover Lane Music Conference initially started as a small get together of some music lovers in the lanes of Kolkata. But as time flew, it became the biggest musical event in Kolkata. The festival is organized at Nazrul Mancha every year between January 22 and 26. Renowned classical singers from various parts of India come here to participate in the mega musical event.
Calcutta Book Fair
Calcutta Book Fair is one of the largest book fairs in the country held every year from the end of January till early February. This 12-day long Book Fair is held over a large area of the Maidan near the crossing of Chowringhee and Park Street.
Calcutta Film Festival
The Calcutta film festival is organized every year between November 10th and November 17th. It is a gala event, representing films in various theatres and is attended by large crowds of film lovers.
National Theatre Festival
National theatre festival is probably the biggest event in the Indian Theatre Calendar. It isorganized between 16 and 25 December every year. Usually, the festival is held at the Academy of Fine Arts attracting thousands of theatre lovers from various parts of the country and also from abroad.
Jatra Festival
Jatra is a form of entertainment, exclusive in Bengal and Orissa. A month-long festival of Jatra shows is held at Rabindra Kanan, Chitpur during the months of December and January. Various Jatra groups of Bengal and Orissa participate in this festival to demonstrate their talents.
| Venue of fairs | |
| Calcutta Book Fair Publishers & Booksellers Guild, 5a, Bhawani Dutta Lane, Kolkata – 700073 Phone : 033-2241-3680 Tentative Timings : January | Calcutta Book Fair Publishers & Booksellers Guild, 5a, Bhawani Dutta Lane, Kolkata – 700073 Phone : 033-2241-3680 Tentative Timings : January |
| Crafts Bazaar Dev. Comm of Handicrafts Mso Bldg., 3rd Floor, ‘A’ Wing B1-Df, Salt Lake City Kolkata - 700 064 Phone : 033-2334-5601/5403 Tentative Timings : January | Crafts Bazaar Dev. Comm of Handicrafts Mso Bldg., 3rd Floor, ‘A’ Wing B1-Df, Salt Lake City Kolkata - 700 064 Phone : 033-2334-5601/5403 Tentative Timings : January |
| Crafts Bazaar Dev. Comm of Handicrafts Mso Bldg., 3rd Floor, ‘A’ Wing B1-Df, Salt Lake City Kolkata - 700 064 Phone : 033-2334-5601/5403 Tentative Timings : January | National Handloom Expo Development Commissioner of Handlooms 21, C.R. Avenue Kolkata – 700072 Tentative Timings : December-January |
| Sonar Sansar Swarno Silpo Bachao Committee 185, B.B. Ganguly Street Kolkata – 700 012 Tentative Timings : March-April | Sonar Sansar Swarno Silpo Bachao Committee 185, B.B. Ganguly Street Kolkata – 700 012 Tentative Timings : March-April |
| Technology Fair Fed, Of Scientists, Engineers, & Technicians 15, Lindsay Street Kolkata – 700087 Tentative Timings : January-February | Travel & Tourism Fair Tourism Dept. Govt. of West Bengal 2, Brabourne Road, 4th Floor Kolkata – 700001 Phone : 033-2248-8273 Tentative Timings : September-October |
| Vidyasagar Mela Bangiya Saksharata Prasar Samity 6a, Serpentine Lane Kolkata – 700 014 Phone : 033-2245-6712 Tentative Timings : November-December | |
No comments:
Post a Comment