Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Traditional picnics decline in Kolkata
Traditional winter picnics in Kolkata are becoming less common.
In the past, families would plan and look forward to these picnics for weeks.
They would prepare special food, pack baskets, and spend the whole day outdoors at places like riversides or farmhouses.
However, nowadays, people are too busy and families are more spread out, so they prefer shorter outings or vacations instead.
Some families still hold on to the tradition, but it's becoming rare.
People miss the joy and togetherness of those old-fashioned picnics.
Traditional winter picnics in Kolkata are declining due to tight schedules and scattered families.
Joint family disintegration is a major reason for the shift from wholesome picnics to shorter outings.
Some families still hold annual picnics with extended family contributions and catering.
Picnics were once elaborate events with specific food, games, and activities, often held at ancestral homes.
Current trends favor vacations or short brunches over traditional, day-long picnics.
- Who
- Kolkatans, especially families
- What
- Decline in traditional winter picnics
- When
- Present day
- Where
- Kolkata and its outskirts
- Why
- Tight schedules, scattered families, and disintegration of joint families
- Reason for decline
- Tight schedules and scattered families
- Common picnic venues
- Riverside patches, farmhouses, relatives' gardens
- Typical picnic food
- Oranges, sandwiches, homemade muffins, koraishutir kochuri, alur dum, boondi, gurer makha sondesh, rice, dal, shukto, topshe maach, mutton curry, phoolkopir singara
- Family picnic frequency
- Yearly Harishabha and Annakuth celebrations
- Current picnic trend
- Vacations or short brunches