Kolkata’s Christmas festival – the best in India

Kolkata’s Christmas is synonymous with Park Street; Park Street and the general mood of festivity. The area is said to resemble celebrations from the iconic Oxford Street in London.

For the last few years, celebrations are being held on a much larger scale – carols, food, live bands, etc. for the last two weeks of December. Cultural shows, musical events and performance by noted personalities will be the highlights of the festival. These festivities are organised by West Bengal Tourism Department, in association with the Christian community.

This year’s Kolkata Christmas Festival, as the festivities have been christened, will see some new features. Lights will go beyond the conventional Park Street, stretching all the way from St Paul’s Cathedral to the Mullick Bazaar end of Park Street. A Christmas parade will be held on Sunday, December 20 on Park Street from 10 am to 12 pm by representatives from various schools. Only pedestrian movement will be allowed during these two hours.

The midnight mass at the grand St Paul’s cathedral is very popular. There is a huge demand to take part in the mass on Christmas Day every year.

One can’t leave out food. There’s turkey, which can be bought at New Market and Kalman’s, some of the best you’ll get anywhere. One can’t leave out mentioning Flury’s. The popular eatery, famous 

for its English breakfast, is especially popular during the period leading up to Christmas.

Christmas cakes are a big hit during Christmas, and everyone, just about everyone, buys them. This is something special too. Christmas in Kolkata is celebrated by all.

The best thing, perhaps, about Christmas celebrations in Kolkata is that it’s an all-community festival – everyone celebrates, irrespective of their religion. It’s a time of celebrations – outings, picnics, adda, food, eating-out… revelry in general. There is magic in the air!