Kolkata, the city of Joy, loves celebrating all the different kinds of festivities. No matter what religious or cultural group one may belong to, Christmas is also not left out. Park Street, St. Paul's Cathedral and Bow Barracks are the main places to visit during this festival. The festivities last for a few days, starting from the Christmas eve till the 2nd of the January.
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St. Paul's Cathedral is the place where people gather to listen to the midnight mass. Located on the Cathedral Road, it has other heritage monuments like the Victoria Memorial in the near vicinity. The cornerstone of the cathedral was laid in 1839, and the building was completed in 1847. It is said to be the largest church in Kolkata and the first Anglican cathedral in Asia. On the Christmas eve, people go there, wait for midnight mass and also, sing Christmas Carols.
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St. Paul's Cathedral in Kolkata | Wikipedia
People flock to Park Street to see the lighting arrangements and Christmas decorations. Many hawkers and vendors are present there to sell toys, balloons and other objects. Some come with their family, some with their friends and they all walk through the streets viewing the decorations, taking pictures, eating food and buying things.
People walking through the carnival at Park Street | Wikipedia
Throughout the city, there is a massive sale of cakes, not the usual birthday cakes but fruit cake, plum cakes, walnut cakes etc. Not just cake shops, but even grocery stores can be seen selling cakes, such is the craze. Earlier very few brands use to make and sell cakes, but now, owing to the huge demand, numerous new brands have come up with their own line of various cakes.
'Nahoum and Sons' have massive queues outside their shop during the Christmas and New Year time, as people gather there to buy them. They are one of the best in the business. This nearly 120-year-old Jewish bakery is located in New Market and they also sell a lot of other old-school treats which are gradually becoming obsolete.
The other bakery which is very famous for its cake is the Saldanha Bakery. They operate out of their house. Mona Saldanha, took over her husband's family business in the 1960s, revamped it and since then they never had to look back. The cheese puff, walnut cake and coconut macaroon sold there are very popular.
The Flurys shop at Park Street is probably their busiest outlet during the Christmas season. They also sell a huge variety of cakes and other goodies.
The best thing about Kolkata is that you can see people from different religions and different walks of lives celebrating the festival in whatever way they can. Everyone gets to have their own share of happiness.
The footfall at the carnival and the number of people out in the streets during the festivities was lesser last year, owing to the pandemic.
(Keywords : Christmas, Carnival, Kolkata, December, Winter, Choir, Cathedral, Church, Cake)