Tag: Christmas Festival

Mamata Banerjee inaugurates Kolkata Christmas Festival

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Park Street has been lit up for a fortnight-long Christmas celebration which was inaugurated today by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee flagged off the festival, being organized by the State Tourism department with Apeejay Surendra, by lighting a Christmas tree at Allen Park.

It will include a series of cultural programmes along with food stalls at the city’s party street that will continue till January 2. Every evening, there would be performances by city’s well known bands.

The department is also organising a tour to the colonial churches of Kolkata, Bandel and Chandernagore. The trips will include visits to churches for midnight mass. Those willing to visit the Danish, Portuguese and French churches at Hooghly will have the option of attending the midnight mass at Bandel Church.

 

আজ কলকাতা ক্রিসমাস ফেস্টিভ্যালের উদ্বোধন করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

বড়দিন উপলক্ষে নতুন সাজে সেজেছে পার্ক স্ট্রিট। আজ অ্যালান পার্কে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের হাত ধরে এই আলোকসজ্জার আনুষ্ঠানিক উদ্বোধন হল।

একই সঙ্গে ক্রিসমাস ট্রি আলোকিত করে সূচনা হয়ে গেল ক্রিসমাস ফেস্টিভালের। একগুচ্ছ সাংস্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠান সহ বিভিন্ন খাবারের স্টল ও থাকছে এই উৎসবে। উৎসব চলবে ২রা জানুয়ারি পর্যন্ত। প্রত্যেক সন্ধ্যায় বিভিন্ন ব্যান্ড পারফর্ম করবে।

ক্রিসমাস ফেস্টিভালের পাশাপাশি প্রথমবার ক্রিসমাস ট্যুরেরও আয়োজন করেছে রাজ্য পর্যটন দপ্তর। ২৪ ডিসেম্বর রাতে কলকাতা, চন্দননগর ও ব্যান্ডেল চার্চ ঘোরানো ও প্রার্থনায় অংশগ্রহণেরও সুযোগ থাকবে এই প্যাকেজে।

WB CM prays for tolerance at Kolkata Christmas Festival inauguration

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated the 5th edition of the Kolkata Christmas Festival at Allen Park in the Park Street in the presence of Archbishop Thomas D’Souza and Bishop Ashoke Biswas. Eminent members of the Christian community along with State tourism minister Bratya Basu were present on the occasion.

During her short address, WB CM laid stress on growing intolerance in India. “We ask Lord Jesus to give us tolerance. We may not like someone or something but we cannot disrespect them,” she said.

“We are one. India is a country of unity in diversity. Swami Vivekananda said unity is strength, divided we fall,” the Chief Minister added.

“May Jesus Christ be our guiding star in this era of intolerance,” said while concluding her speech.

Bigger festival this year

The Kolkata Christmas Festival will continue till January 2 this season instead of December 25. Not just that, the festival venue has also undergone an expansion of sorts with the Christmas and New Year theme lighting that decks up a section of Park Street now being extended to Chowringhee as well.

While the decorative lights were installed between Park Street-Chowringhee intersection and Allen Park, this year it will extend till Mullick Bazar to the east and continue along Chowringhee till St Paul’s Cathedral to the west.

Cultural fest at Park Street

During the festival, popular city bands will per form at Allen Park in the evenings. To share the `Spirit of Christmas’, special choir performances will be held till Christmas day . Kolkata Police and Army bands will also perform at the venue.

On December 20, Sunday , school students will participate in a Christmas parade on Park Street. Cars and bikes will not be allowed on the street during the parade scheduled between 10am and noon. Also, cars will not be allowed on the street on Christmas day to encourage pedestrians.

Food, a big draw at past editions of the festival, will continue to be the crowd-puller with 40 stalls set up along Park Street to serve delicacies from various communities, including cakes, decorations and other Christmas goodies.

WB CM Didi

Religious conversion is a mental pollution: WB CM

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Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hit out at the Centre for choosing Christmas to observe Good Governance Day, saying she “strongly disagreed” with the idea. The ‘ghar wapsi’ campaign also came under sharp criticism at a St Xavier’s College programme.

After wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, WB CM said, “Our country is vast but secular. Why should there be a religious divide? Would anybody like to go to work on Ashtami during Durga Puja? Christmas is a festival of joy, peace and humanity.”

“I strongly disagree when someone says Christmas should be observed as Good Governance Day. This is not right. When I am in the chair I cannot discriminate on the basis of religion, caste or creed. Our unity is our strength,” she added.

Everyday is Good Governance Day, said the Chief Minister. She also said that religious conversion is not a solution, it is a mental pollution.

WB CM spreads the message of peace at the inauguration of Kolkata Christmas Festival

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated the 4th Kolkata Christmas Festival at Allen Park, Park Street. Kolkata will be celebrating the Christmas Festival through music, carols, light and sound exhibitions and the food at a street fest in Park Street.

Christmas in Kolkata can never be complete without an illuminated Park Street and the crowd soaking into the festive season. There will be various cultural events from 18th December onwards in the evening.

The inauguration ceremony started today 5 PM with the Chief Minister ceremonially switching on the festive lights. The welcome address was delivered by Archbishop Rev. Thomas D’Souza. The Chief Minister addressed the enthusiastic crowd.

Among the other distinguished guests present were Rev. Father Felix Raj, Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Bratya Basu, Minister of Tourism, Shashi Panja, Minister of State (Independent) of Child Welfare and Woman Development and Commissioner of Police, Surajit Kar Purakayastha.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

  • We are all saddened and shattered. The attack on innocent children in Peshawar is a big tragedy.
  • Christmas is celebrated across the world. But only Kolkata has an emotional connect.
  • We celebrate all festivals with equal vigour, be it Durga Puja or Christmas.
  • Christmas brings with it the message of peace. Christmas is a universal festival.
  • Christmas is incomplete with the decorative lights in Park Street. It will be lit up from 18th December. Food stalls will also be set up.
  • Kolkata Christmas Festival will continue till 2nd January. Enjoy the festive season.
  • Enjoy the festive season. Follow the message of peace spread by Jesus Christ. Follow the spirit of humanism.
  • Let love be the universal religion. I pray for global peace.