Kolkata’s favourite dine-drink-dance corridor is dressed up with more lights this year! “We had to keep the festivities low-key for the last two years after the pandemic set in but what we have done is added more lights to Park Street. The idea is to ensure that the spirit of the season is intact and everyone will enjoy what is meant to be a beautiful festival,” said Shane Calvert, who has been organising the Kolkata Christmas Festival since its inception in 2011.
Amit Datta
“My friends and I have been touring Kolkata on a Royal Enfield so I got them here to show them the decorations and lights,” said Dr Shreya Biswas, who is in Kolkata after six years after studying medicine in Russia. “Christmas for us means the Kolkata Christmas Festival, breakfast in China Town, picnics to Eco Park or Victoria Memorial, baking and gifting cakes,” she added.
Amit Datta
The music is upbeat and lights are shining bright but food stalls are far and few due to Covid-19 restrictions. Some of the favourites flying off the The Chocolatier counter as quick as Santa’s reindeers are Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows, Brownies with Nutella, Nolen Gur Cupcakes and Double Chocolate Slices. “We visit the festival every year for the chocolate and meat-related goodies so we are missing the stalls serving Anglo-Indian delicacies,” said Meghanshi Mustafi, 14, tucking into a festive treat. On her festive to-do list is Brownies from Saldanha Bakery and a visit to Park Street’s favourite new restaurant, ‘Peter Hu?’.
Amit Datta
