KOLKATA: Colourful tableaux, flamboyant dancers, daring bike stunts and feet-tapping musical performances by a host of artists kicked off the Durga Puja carnival on Red Road on Saturday that left thousands of revellers enthralled. The crowd did not hold back in displaying its delight with thunderous applause and cheers, lending a celebratory end to the dazzle and grandeur that returned to the festival this year.
Ninety-five idols on 285 vehicles, and more than 5,000 performers, participated in the grand show that was attended by over 20,000 spectators, including a few hundred foreign guests and delegates invited in the wake of the festival being recognized as an intangible heritage by Unesco.
Returning after two years of pandemic, the carnival this year turned out to be bigger and better than previous editions. The show started soon after chief minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the spot at 4pm. Consular corp, senior government officers, top defence officers and guests from different countries had already taken their seats by then.
“We were in Kolkata during the festival, and we have not seen anything like this before. There were people everywhere, irrespective of what time of the day or night it was,” said Aaron Kirkman, a Canadian traveller. Kirkman and thousands of others — the number exceeded the 20,000 passes that were given out — were in for a treat for the next five hours.
The evening started with stunts by Kolkata Police Tornadoes, a unit of the city police, followed by tableaux and presentations by different puja committees from across the city. “These are not mere pujas, but history rolling out on Red Road. Many of them are over 80 or 100 years old, and have been witness to so many transformations. This is reflected in their art and creativity,” said the master of the ceremonies.
Excitement reached a crescendo when an air-conditioned van rolled in and some Tollywood actors, including Ankush and Sayantani, disembarked and headed to the main dais. Children in the dance troupes of different pujas were in for a surprise when Mamata Banerjee got up from her seat to greet them and hand out chocolates and flowers.
One of the most popular and engaging performanceswas put up by Sreebhumi Sporting Club — a blend of music and dance steps that had the audience mesmerized. The tableau rolled in amid thunderous applause. Others, like Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani, College Square andAhiritola Durgotsab Committee, too, won hearts and generous applause.
Ballygunge Cultural Association stood out with its colourfully coordinated dance performance while the Kashi Bose Lane idol was the star of their tableau. Kalighat Milan Sangha put up an energetic dhunuchi naach that left Mamata Banerjee impressed. She walked up to the edge of the dais and waved to the rhythm in company of actors and celebrities.
A young girl from Haridevpur NewSporting Club surprised everyone by coming dressed as the chief minister herself. Earlier, the CM joined a group of tribal dancers and swayed with them to the beat of drums. She also fiddled with a few traditional string instruments given to her by some of the organisers. Later, she even joined a dandiya performance and played the dhaak
Most idols rolled along Red Road and headed straight for immersion at various ghats of the Hooghly.