Durga Puja is the much-awaited festival in Bengal and people start preparing for this months ahead of the festivities. This year, from eye-catching pandals to a Durga Puja-themed tram, Kolkata has lots of surprises in store. Trams in Kolkata bear a testament to the city's old-world charm and enable us to dive into the depths of nostalgia, as you move on wheels from one corner of the city to another. Nothing can indeed beat the pleasant feeling of a tram ride along the city even in the era of instant cabs.
To take tram rides a notch higher and also to add a festive touch to it, Kolkata has come up with a Durga Puja-themed tram that will definitely give the rider a taste of the festivities. With the vibrant colours and illustrations all over the outer body of the tram, the colourful vehicle is indeed stealing the show on the streets of Kolkata.
The themed tram has been designed to celebrate the intangible cultural heritage tag for Durga Puja by UNESCO and 150 years of Calcutta Tramways. This unique tram route meanders from Tollygunge to Ballygunge and on its way, it offers a picturesque journey through the historical districts and majestic Puja pandals that encapsulate the soul of this city.
Depicting scenes from Durga Puja celebrations from Chakshu Daan, to Dhunuchi Naach, the tram also includes illustrations of the mesmerising kaash flowers which are symbolic of the month of Ashwin. Additionally, the interior is adorned with beautiful alpana all over, in white colour as it perfectly contrasts with the vibrant red.
Sharing a video depicting details of the tram, a user wrote on Instagram, "Kudos to WBTC, Asian paints, xxl.collective, Team Sayanart and abindesign_studio for this beautiful gift to our beloved city. WB Govt definitely deserves a big applause for wholeheartedly supporting this beautiful initiative."
The person behind this magnificent piece of art is Saayan who also shared snippets on his Instagram handle as he worked hard to create this beautifully decorated tram.
Sharing the pictures of the tram, he wrote, "Quite late to post the images of our first tram project. The internet has already been flooded with images and videos of the tram we painted. It feels great to experience how an idea gets shaped to its fullest potential from the concept stage to its final execution and get love from the people from your own city. Thank you @asianpaints and @xxl.collective for making this idea happen. This is an ode to the beautiful city we call the sweetest part of the country."
Additionally, taking to Twitter, The West Bengal Index wrote, "To celebrate 150 years of Kolkata Tramways and to commemorate Durga Puja’s UNESCO Heritage tag, special trams will trundle from Tollygunge to Ballygunge starting this month until the New Year. The bogies highlight the unique stories of the people behind Durga Puja festivities. Through QR codes, visitors will be able to explore these stories under “People of Puja” during the tram ride."
Chairman of West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC), Madan Mitra, said: "WBTC has collaborated with Asian Paints, which holds the Sharad Samman in Kolkata. This is a tribute to the city’s Puja spirit and the heritage of the city, the tram."
To add more fizz, the state transport department is considering introducing an AC tram route from Gariahat to Shyambazar via Esplanade, which will cost ₹600 per person during the three days of Durga Puja and give the pandal hoppers another alternative to tour the popular Puja pandals en route.
Kolkata's renowned trams, in operation since 1873, represent not only a means of transportation but also a symbol of the city's history and allure.