Kolkata’s ghats were abuzz on Saturday evening as the Ayush ministry hosted a cultural carnival on the eve of the International Yoga Day.
Images by Amit Datt and Soumyajit DeyThe event began at 5.30pm with hundreds of visitors taking part in cultural programmes, art installations, food stalls and family-friendly attractions.
Entertainers dressed in costumes kept the children engaged. Organised as part of the Centre’s Yoga Day celebrations, the programme is open to the public.
Along the Hooghly, visitors explored sand art displays, interactive zones and photo opportunities.
Baul performers took to the stage to perform Bengal’s folk music.
The ‘Paint it, Click it’ competition also added a creative touch to the festivities, encouraging participants to engage with the themes of art and wellness.
Food stalls serving a range of local flavours and dedicated entertainment zones contributed to the carnival atmosphere.
Attention is set to shift to the skies with a mega drone show featuring around 3,000 drones, which is scheduled to begin at 8pm.
The cultural evening is part of a larger event leading up to the International Day of Yoga on Sunday.
The main event will take place at Red Road on Sunday morning, with a mass yoga demonstration and an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the highlights.