Happy New Year from Kolkata

Posted on by Miriam

Happy New Year to all our loyal followers! We made it, and we’re so happy to be here. Despite our fears, we were not chosen to be one of the randomly-selected 2 per cent of travellers for a PC test (we put on our healthiest smiles for the testing ladies) and aside from the Immigration man trying to take Miriam’s fingerprints many times and having to give up, our arrival was completely trouble-free.

It is winter in Kolkata so only 26 degrees with the highest humidity and everyone in their best jackets and sweaters. Jumpers on on sale everywhere:

As it’s New Year’s Day, everyone is on holiday – even the phone shops are closed – and in the best mood, doing holiday things like riding glorious horse-drawn carriages and queuing for many hours to get into the Victoria Monument.

Splendid selfie-taking lion at the Victoria Monument
And the inevitable photo being taken here too

The Maidan is Kolkata’s urban park, larger than Central Park in New York and reputedly the largest in the world. Although our guidebook says it’s the green lungs of the city, not much green was evident because it’s the dry season. But we saw lots of cricket:

And we took a trip to Saint Paul’s Cathedral with a wonderful stained-glass window by Burne-Jones – eat your hearts out European Pre-Raphaelite enthusiasts.

Of course, there are signs of Christmas everywhere (red hats still on sale, amazing lights as we were driven through the city last night) and the Cathedral has a beautiful Nativity scene to compete with Spanish Belem:

Today’s a special Sikh festival – we guessed something was up when we started seeing many, many gloriously-coloured turbans:

We were told to wait for a procession – it would be in five minutes (kind guy stopping on motorbike to tell us), half an hour (couple stood by their car), fifteen minutes (man strolling along who showed us his British residents’ card on his phone together with a photo of the sign at Heathrow Airport). We gave up after half an hour, seeking beer and a delicious Thai meal back in our hotel! The crowd may still be waiting.

Published by Miriam

36 thoughts on “Happy New Year from Kolkata”

  1. Wow this already looks so wonderful – and you only just arrived! Enjoy every minute – what a way to start 2023!

  3. Wonderful photos – very atmospheric. I could almost be there!
    Looking forward to more photos of your journey.
    Jackie

    1. There will definitely be more photos! Many pics taken each day so a selection of the best will be shared with all

  5. Fabulous. It didn’t occur to me to visit a cathedral when I was there! However, if I had known there was a Burne-Jones there I would have! It looks wonderful. I love the city – the whole of life happening on the streets. How long are you there?

    1. Not just one Burne- Jones – at least 10 huge stained glass windows! We were in Kolkata only briefly but back again the day after tomorrow – now staying by a river miles away

    1. Perfectly possible he’s fielding in a separate game entirely! Our path led, rather dangerously, between at least 2 games with thundering fielders charging all over the place.

  7. All looks glorious – particularly those golden chariots which look like they’ve trundled straight out of the Mahabharata. Sorry to hear you missed out on the Sikh procession – time is always so elastic in India! Happy new year to you both and hope you’ve got something nice in store for Miriam’s birthday tomorrow!

    1. There were loads of chariots, covered in golden peacocks and lions. Birthday specials today have been wonderful and will be shared in next exciting episode… watch this space.

  8. What a joyous tumble of colour and activity! And the contrasts – almost self parodying (love the Burne Jones amidst the turbans and gold chariot). A great cheer up for our grey wet NYD out here.

    1. Not making even tiny attempt at self parody – just lovely images of the day… and many more to choose from ( including several cricketers In action!)

  9. How wonderful it all looks! Julia and I wish you both a very Happy New Year and look forward to the continuing blog, it is very cheering.

  10. Looks brilliant. Reminds me of how much I liked Kolkata! The maidan is so large it accommodates the biggest cricket stadium in the world and you’d never even see it was there! Well I didn’t. Having seen the cathedral you must go to South Park cemetery. Glorious bit of victoriana!

    1. We didn’t see the cricket stadium either! Will definitely go to the Cemetery – I have a very soft spot for Victorian sentiment even if it is more than tinged with dreams of empire ( not really tinged – more soaked)

    1. Not sure lazy is quite the word for it – only day 3 today and I have a slight worry people will find the blog exhausting….

  13. Happy New Year! And very Happy Birthday for tomorrow… an hour away! Looks like a fun first day

    1. It was really, really fun – amazingly crowded at some of the sites ( big public holiday) but people very friendly and welcoming

  14. Wow, starting off with a bang! And such variety – Byrne-Jones to Sikh Festival that wasn’t and Santa hats! So looking forward to riding along.

  15. What an array of colours and experiences! I would be tempted to stay, even though I know more adventures lie ahead. Happy new year! Xx

  19. Mimi, your photos are just extraordinary documents. So much color and local life you’ve managed to capture, and wonderful human detail: the form on the cricketer! The beautiful dipped head on the purple turbaned Sikh. Just wonderful to see.

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