Red Road glitters as thousands witness record-breaking carnival in Kolkata

A sea of people, including international delegates, thronged Red Road on Sunday evening to witness the grand Durga Puja Carnival, where nearly 93 community Puja organisers paraded their idols and tableaux in a spectacular celebration of Bengal's biggest festival.

- SOUMITRA NANDI

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who attended the carnival, greeted each participating Puja committee and joined Tollywood celebrities on stage, even dancing briefly as the groups performed before immersion.

The event opened with a captivating performance by danseuse Dona Ganguly's troupe, Diksha Manjari, followed by processions from leading Puia committees such as Sreebhumi, Ballygunge Cultural, Behala Natun Dal, Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha, Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani and Ajeyo Sanghati. Many tableaux recreated their pandal themes, with short performances before heading for immersion at Babu Ghat and other ghats along the Hooghly. Several groups presented songs penned by Banerjee for this year's festivities.