Entertainment · Books & Arts · 4 hrs ago
Kolkata paints roads with alpona designs ahead of Durga Puja
Kolkata is painting roads and crossings with traditional alpona designs ahead of Durga Puja.
The designs, made with liquid rice flour in traditional practice, are now painted in bright colours on the Gariahat Bridge and at the Park Circus crossing.
The work is part of a beautification drive by West Bengal’s new BJP government before its first Durga Puja in office.
Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said Hindu and minority-community artists are working together on the designs.
Paul described their collaboration as a sign of communal harmony and public trust.
Similar work is planned for Red Road, and ghats along the Hooghly are also being decorated for the festival.
Kolkata roads and flyovers are being painted with traditional alpona designs ahead of Durga Puja.
The work is part of a beautification drive by West Bengal’s new Bharatiya Janata Party government.
The Gariahat Bridge has been painted in pink, orange, green and yellow, while a red-and-white design has appeared at Park Circus.
Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said artists from minority communities and Hindu artists were working together on the designs.
Paul described the initiative as a symbol of brotherhood, love and public trust.
- Who
- West Bengal Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul and artists, including Hindu artists and artists from minority communities.
- What
- Kolkata roads and flyovers are being decorated with traditional alpona designs as part of a beautification drive.
- When
- Ahead of Durga Puja in 2026.
- Where
- Kolkata, including Gariahat Bridge and the Park Circus seven-point crossing.
- Why
- The BJP government says the work is part of a city makeover ahead of Durga Puja; Paul described the designs as symbols of brotherhood, love and public trust.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The BJP government organised an event at Eden Gardens during Mahalaya, featuring fireworks and drone shows.
Alpona designs appeared on Gariahat Bridge and at the Park Circus seven-point crossing.
The Hindu reported on the road-painting and beautification work.
- Gariahat Bridge
- Painted in pink, orange, green and yellow
- Park Circus
- Large alpona design in red and white
- Government
- New Bharatiya Janata Party government
- Minister
- Agnimitra Paul, West Bengal Urban Development Minister
- Further planned work
- Red Road and the Hooghly ghats
What people are saying
At Park Circus, where anti-India slogans were raised, fires were set, and police personnel and vehicles were attacked, large alpona designs are now being drawn. My brothers from minority communities have joined Hindu artists in creating these motifs.
Sources
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