Jalpaiguri’s ‘Happy Street’ event brings streets alive with colourful activities

Jalpaiguri: The Happy Street event, part of the Jalpaiguri festival, turned the DM Collectorate Road into a hub of festivities on Thursday, showcasing a blend of art, culture and community spirit. From morning till night, the streets were alive with colourful activities that brought together residents, students and officials in a celebratory mood.

The event featured individuals dressed as cut-throats, Tom and Jerry and even a white Genie, who mingled with children and residents, spreading joy. Puppet dances and clay product exhibitions lined one side of the street, while tea stalls offered brews from local tea gardens on the other. Children enjoyed Ludo games, a jumping ground and battery-operated toys, while some residents showcased their creativity with photo exhibitions, portraits and tattoos.

The festival was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Milan Sangha Ground with a performance by a Bengali band. On Thursday, the festivities began with a colourful procession of school students from the municipality building at 7 am. The Happy Street event was officially inaugurated at noon by District Magistrate Shama Parveen, Superintendent of Police Khandbahale Umesh Ganpath, Chairman Krishna Roy Barman, and Minister Buluchik Baraik by garlanding Netaji’s portrait in front of the PWD office.

Residents embraced the festive atmosphere with enthusiasm. Sharbari Ghosh, a participant, said: “The entire DM Collectorate Road has been transformed with vibrant street art. The puppet dances and costumes brought back old memories. It was a delight to enjoy this with my children.”

Food stalls, music and spontaneous dancing kept the festive energy high. District officials and town residents joined hands in the celebrations. The District Magistrate, along with other officials, even participated in the dancing, cheering the crowd.

“The Happy Street area felt like a New Year’s celebration,” said District Magistrate Shama Parveen. “As the day progressed, the crowd grew, embracing the festive spirit despite the cold. With support from the administration and police, we aim to make the Jalpaiguri festival even bigger next year.”