The colourful Diocesan Education Mission (DEM) Fete 2024 got off to a thrilling start on the greens of St Paul’s Cathedral on an overcast Saturday morning. Santa dumped his conventional reindeer sleigh to swish to the venue on a chauffeured red-and-black scooty with his bag of goodies
Photographs by Arnab DuttaThe mind-boggling array of tempting knick-knacks on sale really made it difficult for visitors to choose their picks
Institutions under the Church of North India (CNI) from in and around Kolkata enthusiastically took part in the daylong fete. The proceeds from the sales are utilised solely for education of the needy and deserving children of the Kolkata diocese and even for other dioceses
The plump Santa Claus was most indulging with children surrounding him for Christmas gifts
The lucky dip and raffle stalls tried to grab eyeballs and lure fair visitors with the bumper prizes painted in big fonts and psychedelic colours on giant placards
The sheer variety of savouries — from ‘patisaptas’ to samosas to papri chaats to tarts and pies and cakes — on offer made visitors drool and make a dash to the umpteen stalls
Tattoo artists had a busy time and made brisk business painting favourite cartoon characters of kids in the most professional manner
Crowds were seen in front of most food stalls. Clothes, handmade candles, handicrafts, sweaters and scores of other products flew off the shelves ushering smiles for a good cause towards education