Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations are hitting a high note as major community idol immersions kick off Friday evening. Rain threw a wrench into Thursday’s rituals on Dussehra, so only smaller events from housing complexes, homes, and conservative groups went ahead with limited crowds at the ghats.
City police expect a big surge starting Friday, with thousands flocking to the riverbanks for the main community pujas. “Security was already solid on Thursday, but we’re ramping it up even more for the next couple of days,” a police official told reporters.
Kolkata hosts around 3,500 Durga Puja events this year, most organized by vibrant community groups. Police estimate the bulk of these immersions will wrap up Friday and Saturday, drawing massive turnouts to the 28 key ghats.
Things get festive on Sunday with a state government carnival at Red Road in central Kolkata. Only 113 award-winning Durga Puja committees join in, and they’ll immerse their idols at the end. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee plans to attend, adding star power to the event.
To handle the crowds safely, police are deploying extra officers at the ghats and along 200 procession routes. They’ve also stationed 28 disaster management teams—one per ghat—plus River Traffic Police to oversee the waters. Drones will provide aerial surveillance, just like Thursday, and new CCTV cameras are up at the sites. Oh, and no DJs allowed in the processions to keep things orderly.
With Durga Puja idol immersions in full swing, Kolkata’s streets and ghats promise an exciting, secure finale to the festival.
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