Mamata inaugurates Christmas festival at Park Street, slams holiday cancellation order

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Christmas festival at Allen Park, Park Street, today, marking the start of Kolkata's festive celebrations. The festival, which began on December 19, will run through December 30. As part of the event, Mamata announced that vehicles will be restricted on Park Street on December 24 and 25 to facilitate pedestrian movement and ensure the smooth conduct of the celebrations. The area will be car-free, and people are encouraged to walk through Park Street to experience the Christmas festivities.

Mamata Banerjee spoke about the spirit of Christmas, emphasizing themes of love, joy, peace, unity, and good education. She also mentioned the significance of prayer and harmony. She unveiled a new Christmas song that she had written herself, stating that she composed it in just one day, with the help of Shri Radha, who assisted in its musical arrangement. Mamata shared that the song was created while she was walking and expressed a deep sense of spirituality and unity in its lyrics.

The song, written by Mamata, includes the lines: “Let the light of peace come to every home, come Lord, to every heart, come Father, to every home, give peace to all. You are the Father of the world, we all bow our heads. Your message is for everyone, let peace spread across the world.” The song was performed by singer Indraneel Sen, who had received the composition just 36 hours before the event. Sen noted that Mamata made several revisions to the song until the final version was completed.

Mamata also addressed the issue of Dearness Allowance (DA) for West Bengal state government employees. Last year, during the Christmas festival, the Chief Minister had announced an increase in DA for state employees. This year, many state government employees had hoped for a similar announcement. However, Mamata did not announce any increase in DA during her speech. While no immediate increase was announced, there remains the possibility of a DA increase from January 1, 2025, as per previous government practices. State government employees are awaiting any official announcement regarding the DA raise.

Additionally, Mamata Banerjee criticized the central government’s decision to cancel the national holiday on December 25, calling it "unfortunate." She expressed disappointment over the cancellation, emphasizing the significance of December 25 as a holiday and its importance to many people in the country. The Chief Minister's comments reflect the broader sentiment regarding the central government's move.

The Christmas festival in Kolkata, which runs until December 31, is one of the city’s major annual events, attracting large crowds each year. As part of the festival, Park Street will remain closed to vehicular traffic to allow visitors to experience the holiday decorations and festivities without the usual congestion. The event will feature a variety of cultural programs, Christmas-themed activities, and community celebrations throughout the week.