With 2020 coming to a close, I wish the very best to you and yours! I hope that 2021 holds success and good fortune in any endeavour you pursue. Happy New Year! 🥂🎉

I had some free time on New Year’s Day and hence, decided to go out for a walk and cover the carnival-like atmosphere at Park Street and New Market as the city celebrates and welcomes in the New Year, 2021.

Also, this is my first blog of this year! While, I’ve just started learning photography and videography, the images may not be award-winning but I’m sure they do tell a good story. Alright now, let’s get to it.

People flocked in for the last time at Allen Park and Park Street, picking up the festive spirit that they left behind on 25th December, 2020, a day before the lights were going to be taken down and after which life would return back to normal, until next time.

As evening came, the people grew in numbers; most came in cars and bikes. Kolkata police had put in place an elaborate security arrangement keeping a strict watch on the crowd.

At Park Street, it’s finally that time of the year when the entire street becomes the venue for a party, where there are food stalls and musical shows at every hangout of a very trendy and growing crowd. Crowds walked through the streets and a long queue of people stood outside heritage restaurants and bistros like Trincas, Peter Cat, Mocambo, Bar-B-Q and Moulin Rouge to enjoy a wide selection of different cuisines.

New Year isn’t the same for everyone. There are people who live this day just like any other ordinary day as they cannot afford to celebrate. But they are equally important to the system and should be acknowledged, because without them — none of this would be possible.

All of this is great, but are we forgetting and losing the true meaning behind Christmas and this festive season? I believe our aim should be to be a kinder person and to live a compassionate life. The following image makes me slightly emotional, it looks as if Santa Claus is very lonely and locked up, while the celebration outside has turned out to be greatly materialistic.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and New Year Celebrations at Park Street, at home or anywhere else that makes you happy. It’s time for me to head out from Park Street to New Market.

New Market is a very popular destination for shopping in West Bengal. For any season or festival, people love going there first, for shopping. During Christmas and the New Year Esplanade (Dharmatala) and New Market get the new look. Both places are always crowded. Many shops in New Market offer unique and beautiful Christmas decorations too.

Last but not the least, you can never miss; Nahoum’s — one of the oldest Jewish bakery in New Market, Kolkata. During Christmas, there’s a long line outside the shop and it stretches as far as Simpark Mall, outside the central market place.

When I hear the words, “Winter” and “Christmas” — the only thing I think about is Nahoum’s (alright, who am I fooling, I visit this place very often! 🤤) and when you’re a foodie kolkatan, you obviously know you cannot celebrate Christmas and New Year’s without indulging in Nahoum’s cakes and pastries.

That’s all folks! I hope you loved the article and the photographs, and I wish you a wonderful year ahead! 🎉