Riya parik: adding a entry

2025-11-25T06:29:31Z

adding a entry

New page

{{Short description|Christmas carnival in India}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=December 2016}}

'''Kolkata Christmas Festival''', held every December in on [[Park Street, Kolkata]], is one of the largest dedicated [[Christmas]] carnivals in [[India]]. The [[Christmas lights|themed lighting]] starts from [[St. Xavier's College, Kolkata|St Xavier's College]] and ends at [[Jawaharlal Nehru Road]]. This has been extended in recent years at both ends: up to the Mullick Bazar crossing on Park Street, and up to [[St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata|St Paul's Cathedral]] on Cathedral Road, an offshoot of Jawaharlal Nehru Road. Another offshoot of celebrations and lighting has been extended to Vardaan Market on Camac Street. This themed lighting is designed by artisans from the nearby town of Chandannagar.

Bands and various choir groups perform on the stage at Allen Park on Park Street. A two-hour Christmas Parade is also organised on one of the days in which about 500 school children participate.

==Inception==
[[File:KCF 2016 02 Ed.jpg|alt=Students from South City International School at the Christmas Parade on Park Street during Kolkata Christmas Festival 2016|thumb|The group of students from South City International School at the Christmas Parade on Park Street during the Kolkata Christmas Festival (KCF) in 2016]]

The Kolkata Christmas Festival (KCF) was started in 2011 by the Tourism Department of the Government of West Bengal, in association with the Christian community.

It was conceptualised by [[Mamata Banerjee]], the Chief Minister of West Bengal. This festival is a result of the combined efforts of the [[Government of West Bengal|West Bengal Government]], [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]], [[Kolkata Police Force|Kolkata Police]], and a few private organisations.

==The festival==
[[File:Christmas Parade at 2016 Kolkata Christmas Festival.jpg|alt=Christmas Parade by students at the 2016 Kolkata Christmas Festival|thumb|Christmas Parade by students at the 2016 Kolkata Christmas Festival]]

Kolkata Christmas Festival is held in December (from December 22 to December 30 in 2017). It initially spanned just the period around Christmas Day but has since been extended.

The festival is hosted at Allen Park on [[Park Street, Kolkata|Park Street]] (renamed Mother Teresa Sarani). Park Street is turned into a walk-only zone during Christmas and New Year's eves. Allen Park is the nucleus of the carnival where the live music performances take place.

The choir of [[Dr. Graham's Homes|Dr Graham's Homes School]] from Kalimpong, [[Calcutta Symphony Orchestra]] from the [[Calcutta School of Music]] and choirs have performed at the KCF. [[Usha Uthup]], Barefoot, Krosswindz, Orient Express have performed live at KCF over the years.

A large [[Christmas tree]] is placed near Mother Teresa's statue at the Park Street-[[Camac Street]] crossing. Park Street becomes a [[pedestrian street]] on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

==See also==
*[[List of Christmas and holiday season parades]]
[[File:KCF 2016 05.jpg|alt=Food stall at the 2016 Kolkata Christmas Festival|thumb|Food stall at the 2016 Kolkata Christmas Festival]]

==References==
<ref>{{cite web|author=Angikaar Choudhury |url=http://scroll.in/article/777409/in-photos-glimpses-of-a-bengali-christmas-on-kolkatas-park-street |title=In photos: Glimpses of a Bengali Christmas on Kolkata's Park Street |website=Scroll.in |date=2015-12-23 |accessdate=2016-12-05}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlooktraveller.com/travel-updates/celebrate-the-spirit-of-christmas-in-kolkata-1008439 |title=Kolkata Christmas Festival | Christmas in Kolkata | Festivals in Kolkata |publisher=Outlook Traveller |date= |accessdate=2016-12-05 |archive-date=2016-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121125646/http://www.outlooktraveller.com/travel-updates/celebrate-the-spirit-of-christmas-in-kolkata-1008439 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/kolkata-christmas-festival-to-begin-from-december-18-517182-2015-11-22 |title=Kolkata Christmas Festival to begin from December 18 : PTI feed, News - India Today |website=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date=2015-11-22 |access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Kolkata-Christmas-Festival-to-start-today/articleshow/50202106.cms |title=Kolkata Christmas Festival to start today |website=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2015-12-16 |accessdate=2016-12-05}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eservices.wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/news-corner/-/asset_publisher/DRJNTTCAyFo0/content/5th-kolkata-christmas-festiv-1 |title=5th Kolkata Christmas Festival - News Corner - Egiye Bangla |website=Eservices.wb.gov.in |date=2015-12-16 |accessdate=2016-12-05 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|author=Natasha Anchees |url=http://www.india.com/travel/articles/how-christmas-is-celebrated-in-kolkata/ |title=How Christmas is celebrated in Kolkata |website=India.com |date=2015-12-08 |accessdate=2016-12-05}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maamatimanush.tv/articles.php?aid=1095 |title=Maa Mati Manush :: M3 Leads - Kolkata Christmas Festival 2015 |website=Maamatimanush.tv |date=2015-12-14 |accessdate=2016-12-05}}</ref>
{{Reflist}}
<ref>{{cite web|author=Scroll.in Article on Chandannagar lights |url=http://thereel.scroll.in/816266/from-dinosaurs-to-dipa-karmakar-everything-is-illuminated-in-chandannagar |title=From dinosaurs to Dipa Karmakar, everything is illuminated in Chandannagar |date=12 September 2016 |accessdate=2016-12-09}}</ref>

[[Category:Festivals in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Christmas and holiday season parades]]

Kolkata Christmas Festival - Revision history

Riya parik: adding a entry