PUJA Carnival: 75 Award Winning Idols Showcased On Kolkata’s Red Road

THE   annual Durga Puja carnival conceived by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to showcase before the world the grandest festivities of Bengal has gained immense acclaim.As in the previous two years, thousands of cheering spectators including foreign dignitaries and hundreds of international tourists on Tuesday witnessed and enjoyed grand extravaganza associated with annual Durgotsav. Seventy-five Puja-organising clubs of Kolkata took part in the carnival parading down the historic Red Road .Puja themes mesmerised more than 20-25 million people during the just concluded puja fest across Bengal. Idols of 75 award-winning pandals were paraded through historic Red Road on Tuesday before.  Immersion ending the third run of the carnival. Special light installations and a separate gallery for foreign delegates were arranged In addition to the chief minister, many eminent personalities were present on the occasion. Arrangements were at par with any international carnival amidst tight security.“We have been participating since the beginning. In the first carnival we had won best performer of immersion…The arrangements are much better than last year. This is going to give us global recognition,” said Subir Das, secretary of Ballygunj, 75 Palli.Kolkata Police has made arrangements to manage traffic during the carnival since it will take place on a working day.The number of participating clubs has gone up from 55 last year, to 72. Arun Lal, secretary of the Mudiali Club Sarbojanin Durga Puja, said, “The Red Road puja carnival is a great initiative on the part of our state government. But we haven’t participated till date because we have a tradition of holding the immersion on Vijayadasami.”“Policemen and volunteers work tirelessly during the festival days. They manage the crowds throughout the night. About 3,000 big and small Durga Pujas were organised across Kolkata metropolis and adjoining areas this year. Another 25,000 were organised across the rest of the state, said official source.(with inputs from The Indian Express)