Thu Dec 19 20:15:00 UTC 2024: ## Kolkata Celebrates 14th Annual Christmas Festival
**KOLKATA, INDIA (December 20, 2024)** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the 14th annual Kolkata Christmas Festival on Thursday, December 19th, at Allen Park on Park Street. The festival, a collaboration between the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Police, Information & Cultural Affairs Department, and Apeejay Surrendra Group, will run until December 30th.
This year’s festivities include illuminations across Park Street, Allen Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and surrounding areas, extending to Bow Barracks. A special basking program will take place on Camac Street from December 21st to 23rd. Vehicle access will be restricted on December 24th and 25th. Artists from across India will participate in the celebrations.
Chief Minister Banerjee emphasized the importance of Christmas as a celebration of peace, love, joy, affection, and unity. She noted Kolkata’s status as the cultural capital of India and highlighted the festival’s growing popularity, attracting lakhs of locals and tourists annually, rivaling even the Red Road Durga Puja carnival.
The celebrations extend beyond Kolkata, with illuminations planned for prominent churches in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Asansol, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Chandannagar, Bandel, Krishnanagar, Jhargram, Purulia, Baruipur, Alipurduar, Howrah, and Bidhannagar.
First Piper 