Kolkata: The Maidan skyline is set to get a colourful makeover this Vishwakarma Puja, with the Bengal govt planning a kite and balloon festival featuring large-scale kite flying, hot-air balloons and aerial displays in the heart of the city.
Bengal’s tourism minister Shankar Ghosh announced the plan on Tuesday, saying the festival would be held on the Maidan on Vishwakarma Puja as part of the department’s efforts to introduce new attractions to Kolkata’s tourism calendar.
“The kite and balloon festival will be held on the Maidan on Vishwakarma Puja,” Ghosh said.
Kite-flying has traditionally been associated with Vishwakarma Puja across Bengal, with rooftops turning into arenas for enthusiasts. The govt now plans to take that tradition to the Maidan on a larger scale. Besides kite-flying competitions, the proposed festival will feature balloons, including hot-air balloon activities, and other aerial attractions, officials said. Details of the programme are being worked out by the tourism department.
The initiative is aimed at reviving traditional recreational activities while packaging them as a tourism event. The Maidan is expected to provide the backdrop for what the govt hopes will develop into an annual Vishwakarma Puja attraction.