The overcast sky and brief intermittent showers were at it but Kolkata refused to let its festive spirit go soggy.
Despite a few hard spells, Durga Puja revellers braved the weather and walked along slushy paths to check on the city's best idol makers and themes the designers had on offer.
While Durga Puja is traditionally a five-day affair, the best dresses and best-laid plans are usually set aside for Ashtami, the third day. Technically, Ashtami is the eighth night of Navaratri and for devotees in the rest of India it is not singularly special. In Bengal, however, it is the third day of Durga Puja that is most significant. So, a rain-soaked Ashtami cannot possibly seat well with revellers.
Just like the last few years, revellers have been out marquee-hopping since a day before Sasthi, considered the first day of festivities.
Keeping in mind that swirling millions on Ashtami night is never easy to brave, people went out early, hoping others would not have the same idea. Not only was the purpose defeated with millions sharing the same brainwave, the crowd was no less even on Ashtami evening.
According to the Kolkata Police, some of the notable marquees had footfall of around 10-12 lakh, starting from 6 pm and the numbers swelled as the night set off towards dawn.
The police expect more than 3.5 crore people on Kolkata's streets through the day, till early Monday morning.
As expected, traffic was a nightmare and streets were log-jammed for kilometers at stretches.
The city police, however, put in action its well-laid plans and ensured the ocean of humanity kept moving.
In keeping with the Met office's predictions, Saturday saw brief showers, as did Sunday, with similar weather set to be on the cards for Monday and Tuesday. According to Met officials, all depends on the behaviour of a cyclonic depression on the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Odisha.
If the weather system changes, Kolkata will be spared but otherwise it could prove to be bad news.
Revellers, however, threw caution to the wind and refused to let such reports dampen their mood.
Since Sunday morning, as devotees gathered at neighbourhoods for Ashtami morning anjali, a special offering to the goddess, hundreds were found huddled under umbrellas, often dozens sharing one.
![]( "festive ride: A community Durga Puja pandal designed on the the theme of a cab in Kolkata on Sunday. PTI")
The overcast sky and brief intermittent showers were at it but Kolkata refused to let its festive spirit go soggy.
Despite a few hard spells, Durga Puja revellers braved the weather and walked along slushy paths to check on the city’s best idol makers and themes the designers had on offer.
While Durga Puja is traditionally a five-day affair, the best dresses and best-laid plans are usually set aside for Ashtami, the third day. Technically, Ashtami is the eighth night of Navaratri and for devotees in the rest of India it is not singularly special. In Bengal, however, it is the third day of Durga Puja that is most significant. So, a rain-soaked Ashtami cannot possibly seat well with revellers.
Just like the last few years, revellers have been out marquee-hopping since a day before Sasthi, considered the first day of festivities.
Keeping in mind that swirling millions on Ashtami night is never easy to brave, people went out early, hoping others would not have the same idea. Not only was the purpose defeated with millions sharing the same brainwave, the crowd was no less even on Ashtami evening.
According to the Kolkata Police, some of the notable marquees had footfall of around 10-12 lakh, starting from 6 pm and the numbers swelled as the night set off towards dawn.
The police expect more than 3.5 crore people on Kolkata’s streets through the day, till early Monday morning.
As expected, traffic was a nightmare and streets were log-jammed for kilometers at stretches.
The city police, however, put in action its well-laid plans and ensured the ocean of humanity kept moving.
In keeping with the Met office’s predictions, Saturday saw brief showers, as did Sunday, with similar weather set to be on the cards for Monday and Tuesday. According to Met officials, all depends on the behaviour of a cyclonic depression on the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Odisha.
If the weather system changes, Kolkata will be spared but otherwise it could prove to be bad news.
Revellers, however, threw caution to the wind and refused to let such reports dampen their mood.
Since Sunday morning, as devotees gathered at neighbourhoods for Ashtami morning anjali, a special offering to the goddess, hundreds were found huddled under umbrellas, often dozens sharing one.
Despite a few hard spells, Durga Puja revellers braved the weather and walked along slushy paths to check on the city's best idol makers and themes the designers had on offer.
While Durga Puja is traditionally a five-day affair, the best dresses and best-laid plans are usually set aside for Ashtami, the third day. Technically, Ashtami is the eighth night of Navaratri and for devotees in the rest of India it is not singularly special. In Bengal, however, it is the third day of Durga Puja that is most significant. So, a rain-soaked Ashtami cannot possibly seat well with revellers.
Just like the last few years, revellers have been out marquee-hopping since a day before Sasthi, considered the first day of festivities.
Keeping in mind that swirling millions on Ashtami night is never easy to brave, people went out early, hoping others would not have the same idea. Not only was the purpose defeated with millions sharing the same brainwave, the crowd was no less even on Ashtami evening.
According to the Kolkata Police, some of the notable marquees had footfall of around 10-12 lakh, starting from 6 pm and the numbers swelled as the night set off towards dawn.
The police expect more than 3.5 crore people on Kolkata's streets through the day, till early Monday morning.
As expected, traffic was a nightmare and streets were log-jammed for kilometers at stretches.
The city police, however, put in action its well-laid plans and ensured the ocean of humanity kept moving.
In keeping with the Met office's predictions, Saturday saw brief showers, as did Sunday, with similar weather set to be on the cards for Monday and Tuesday. According to Met officials, all depends on the behaviour of a cyclonic depression on the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Odisha.
If the weather system changes, Kolkata will be spared but otherwise it could prove to be bad news.
Revellers, however, threw caution to the wind and refused to let such reports dampen their mood.
Since Sunday morning, as devotees gathered at neighbourhoods for Ashtami morning anjali, a special offering to the goddess, hundreds were found huddled under umbrellas, often dozens sharing one.
The overcast sky and brief intermittent showers were at it but Kolkata refused to let its festive spirit go soggy. Despite a few hard spells, Durga Puja revellers braved the weather and walked along slushy paths to check on the city’s best idol makers and themes the designers had on offer.
While Durga Puja is traditionally a five-day affair, the best dresses and best-laid plans are usually set aside for Ashtami, the third day. Technically, Ashtami is the eighth night of Navaratri and for devotees in the rest of India it is not singularly special. In Bengal, however, it is the third day of Durga Puja that is most significant. So, a rain-soaked Ashtami cannot possibly seat well with revellers.
Just like the last few years, revellers have been out marquee-hopping since a day before Sasthi, considered the first day of festivities.
Keeping in mind that swirling millions on Ashtami night is never easy to brave, people went out early, hoping others would not have the same idea. Not only was the purpose defeated with millions sharing the same brainwave, the crowd was no less even on Ashtami evening.
According to the Kolkata Police, some of the notable marquees had footfall of around 10-12 lakh, starting from 6 pm and the numbers swelled as the night set off towards dawn.
The police expect more than 3.5 crore people on Kolkata’s streets through the day, till early Monday morning.
As expected, traffic was a nightmare and streets were log-jammed for kilometers at stretches.
The city police, however, put in action its well-laid plans and ensured the ocean of humanity kept moving.
In keeping with the Met office’s predictions, Saturday saw brief showers, as did Sunday, with similar weather set to be on the cards for Monday and Tuesday. According to Met officials, all depends on the behaviour of a cyclonic depression on the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Odisha.
If the weather system changes, Kolkata will be spared but otherwise it could prove to be bad news.
Revellers, however, threw caution to the wind and refused to let such reports dampen their mood.
Since Sunday morning, as devotees gathered at neighbourhoods for Ashtami morning anjali, a special offering to the goddess, hundreds were found huddled under umbrellas, often dozens sharing one.