Kolkata, Oct. 12 -- Kolkata is bracing for a high-profile line-up of events in the coming months, from the footballing spectacle of El Clasico to Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend key engagements.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said Union Home minister Amit Shah would visit Kolkata on Saptami to offer prayers to Maa Durga. He said the state government was preparing to host a series of cultural, religious and international events over the next few months, putting the city in the spotlight.
The Chief Minister said the Pravasi Bharatiya gathering, scheduled for January 8 and 9, is expected to bring both the President and the Prime Minister to Kolkata. President Droupadi Murmu is expected to chair the programme, while PM Modi is also scheduled to attend.
January will also see a major religious spectacle at Brigade Parade Ground, with a programme featuring 1,000 kunds associated with Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. In another landmark gathering, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is expected to preside over a mass Gita recitation involving 10 lakh people.
The state is also preparing to host World Energy Week from January 27 to 31, positioning Bengal as a venue for discussions on energy and related developments.
In between these major engagements, Darjeeling will host a Melody Festival organised by West Bengal Police on December 16, adding a cultural dimension to the state's event calendar, Adhikari said.
The succession of programmes is expected to put Bengal in the spotlight across sports, spirituality, culture and international engagement.
However, the scale of the proposed gatherings will also test the administration's ability to coordinate security, crowd management, transport and logistics. Even there will be a grand Dussehra show, he added.
Responding to a question on preparations for Chhath Puja, the Chief Minister said the celebrations would be organised on a grand scale.
With the government projecting the events as opportunities to showcase Bengal's organisational capabilities, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the state can translate its ambitious calendar into successful public engagements.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Sports minister Indranil Khan said Kolkata was set for an unforgettable football spectacle on November 25, when Real Madrid and Barcelona are expected to face off in El Clasico.
The proposed clash between two of world football's biggest clubs is expected to draw massive crowds, offering fans in the state a rare chance to witness the iconic rivalry.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.