Kalimpong gets set to celebrate historic day

It will be Holi-Diwali combined in Kalimpong on St Valentine's Day as Kalimpong gets upgraded from a sub-division to a district.

While Trinamool Congress will be commemorating the historic day with Abir (colours) and by bursting crackers, the Jan Andolan Party has asked all residents to light candles in front of their houses marking the day.

CM Mamata Banerjee arrived to a warm welcome to Kalimpong on Monday. The CM's cavalcade took more than 3 hours for 65 km journey from Siliguri to Kalimpong and people lined up on both sides of the streets to welcome the CM. They stopped her cavalcade to offer Khadas (traditional scarves.)

Welcome gates were put up at all important junctions with huge cut-outs of the Chief Minister. At many places Naumati Bajas (traditional instruments) greeted the CM. "She has fulfilled our long cherished dream of a district. Till now development was Darjeeling-centric. Now Kalimpong will get her due recognition," stated Amar Thapa, a college student.

Kalimpong is steeped in history too. The land was ceded by the Kingdom of Bhutan to the East India Company. The Treaty of Sinchula signed on November 11, 1865 between Sir John Lawrence, Viceroy, Governor-General of Her Britannic Majesty's possessions in the East Indies and the King of Bhutan, ceded these parts.