On Christmas, Park Street shows the way

Kolkata: All city roads led to Park Street on Sunday evening when the most popular street in Kolkata turned into “Walk Street”. A sea of heads wearing Santa Clause hats and sporting other props was spotted in Park Street after it was thrown open for public. People of all ages and coming from various districts of the state celebrated Christmas together. The street has been beautifully decorated with colourful lights which proved to be the major attraction for the Christmas revellers. The food stalls on either side of the street serving delicacies was an added attraction. Be evening, all the churches near Park Street including St. Paul’s Cathedral were full of Xmas revellers. Youngsters were mostly busy taking selfies and groufies while people accompanied by their relatives made the most of the day by hopping from one place to another.

Alipore Zoo, Victoria Memorial and Millennium Park were some of the other places of recreation people thronged to. Even shopping malls like South City Mall were buzzing with Xmas crowd. The small hub of Anglo-Indian population in Kolkata- Bow Barracks too was full of people. However, for the Xmas revellers Christmas celebration was incomplete without a visit to the Park Street. If the day was devoted to the amusement parks, people reserved their evening to pay a visit to Park Street.

Traffic movement was stopped in Park Street from 4 pm to 11 pm which was soon overtaken by a sea of people. Tourists from other states as well as foreigners took part in the celebrations along with the city-goers. The celebrations were inaugurated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on December 16 at Allen Park on Park Street. The celebrations on the fun street would continue till the New Year.

“This is the best time the year to be in Park Street. It feels amazing to walk on the street and enjoy the spectacular lighting here,” said a college student. Vendors selling various Christmas props did a wonderful business.

“For the first time after the announcement of demonetisation move, I did a decent business today. It seems that people are finally willing to give away cash. If the celebration continues till New Year then we will be able to make a good profit,” said a Christmas props seller in Russel Street.