Tue Dec 24 23:21:00 UTC 2024: ## Kolkata’s Christmas: A City-Wide Celebration Draws Expats Home

**KOLKATA, INDIA** – Kolkata is dazzling this Christmas, attracting thousands of former residents returning to revel in the city’s unique festive spirit. Unlike many other cities where Christmas is primarily a religious observance, Kolkata embraces the holiday with a city-wide celebration that transcends religious boundaries.

The city’s festive atmosphere, officially launched on December 19th by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, features elaborate illuminations surpassing previous years. Park Street, traditionally a focal point, is now complemented by dazzling displays across the city, creating a “winter Diwali,” according to Ananya Maitra, a Mumbai-based finance professional visiting for the holidays.

The charm of Kolkata’s Christmas extends beyond lights. Iconic landmarks like Bow Barracks and St. Paul’s Cathedral draw crowds, while the legendary Nahoum’s bakery, with its famed Christmas cakes, witnesses long queues of people from diverse religious backgrounds eagerly purchasing treats. This unique blend of cultures, where Hindus queue at a Jewish bakery run by Muslims to buy cakes for a Christian holiday, is a defining feature of Kolkata’s Christmas, highlighting the city’s inclusivity.

Many expats interviewed emphasized the city’s special Christmas magic. Shiladitya Chattoraj, an HR professional in Bhubaneswar, described the “colourful scenes and expressions of kids” as highlights, while acknowledging changes like the reduction of trams and yellow taxis. Others, like Susam Ghosh (New Zealand) and Tanushyam Chattopadhyay (Ahmedabad), compared Kolkata’s vibrant festive spirit to other international celebrations, ultimately concluding that Kolkata’s Christmas remains unmatched.

The festive season isn’t just about lights and cakes; it’s also about a revival of childhood memories and a shared celebratory spirit that unites the diverse populace of Kolkata, drawing people from far and wide back to their home city.

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