Red Road gears up for mega carnival

Kolkata: Durga Puja may be over but celebrations in the City of Joy have not ceased yet. The mega bonanza for the Bengalis is still continuing in Kolkata and on October 3 a carnival will be organised at Red Road to showcase the award-winning idols of the year.

With just a day remaining in between for the extravaganza, final touches are being given to turn the carnival into a grand show. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be present during the programme that will start in the evening. Many eminent personalities will also be seen at the carnival.

Durga idols of the most popular Pujas in the city and its adjoining areas will parade through the stretch one after the other on decorated trucks amidst various colourful arrangements. It is the brainchild of the Chief Minister and this is the second year when the event will be taking place.

This year, several features have been added to give a grand look to the carnival.

First of all, a huge lighting arrangement has been installed to give a completely different experience to those who will come to attend the event from different parts of the country and abroad. Make-shift galleries have been set up on both sides along Red Road. The galleries have been decorated with posters of Pujor Bisarjon — Bishes Sovajatra 2017.

According to a state government official, the most attractive part of the carnival is the lighting. There is a special lighting arrangement near the podium of the VVIPs and it will create a special effect when idols of Goddess Durga and her entourage will be passing on trucks through the stretch of Red Road. Moreover, lighting from Chandannagar based on different projects of the state government including Shishu Sathi, Sabuj Sathi and Khadya Sathi have also been installed along the entire stretch.

This year, the total number of Durga idols that will be taking part in the carnival has been increased to 55 and all these are the most popular ones in the city and its adjoining areas.

Artists, their assistants and workers were found busy giving finishing touches. Braving incessant rainfall, they were found working to complete the remaining task. The official said that separate area has been earmarked for sitting arrangements for people visiting from abroad. It is expected that many delegates who have already come to the city from different countries for the FIFA Under-17 Football World Cup will be present to watch the carnival.

Durga idols from their respective Puja mandaps will be brought at a point near Red Road on well decorated trucks and each of them will start moving ahead one after the other along Red Road once the function begins. The idols will be taken for immersion post the road show.

The top brass of the Kolkata Police have also made necessary planning to manage traffic during the carnival. The cops have also made necessary security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident during the rally.