Chinese New Year’s Eve Celebration – 2016

Kolkata (Calcutta), the only city in India with a Chinatown, celebrates the Chinese New Year with lots of enthusiasm. Earlier I wrote about the celebrations at Tiretti Bazaar, or the old Chinatown. This year I went to Tangra, or the new Chinatown, to cover the New Year’s Eve celebration at the Pei May Chinese High School.

Before entering the school, my wife and I decided to go for an early dinner at Kafulok. The new Chinatown is famous for the Chinese bar cum restaurants and most of them are pocket friendly. After the dinner, which we washed down with beer and breezer, we were all set to attend the celebration.

The brightly lit up road leading to Kafulok

The brightly lit up road leading to Kafulok

A temporary gate in front of the Chinese Kali Temple

A temporary gate in front of the Chinese Kali Temple

Chinese Kali Temple

Chinese Kali Temple

Chinese Kali temple is a temple of the Hindu Goddess Kali, whom the Indian Chinese of this area also pray to. Hence the name.

Pei May Chinese High School

Pei May Chinese High School

The Pei May Chinese High School compound is huge with a big building and open areas in front. It was all decked up with beautiful Chinese lanterns and lights.

The stage

The stage

There was a temple on the school building’s roof. People were coming to pray here before going down to attend the celebration.

Pei May School Temple

Pei May School Temple

Pei May School Temple

Pei May School Temple

Pei May School Temple

Pei May School Temple

Pei May School Temple

Pei May School Temple

Tangra decked up to celebrate Chinese New Year

Tangra decked up to celebrate Chinese New Year

Chinese lanterns

Chinese lanterns

Chinese lanterns

Chinese lanterns

The list of events for the evening was as below –

1. Traditional Drumming
2. Junior Lion Dance
3. Double Lions
4. Group Drumming
5. Cymbals Shuffling
6. Western Dance
7. Lion vs Monkey
8. Benches
9. Martial Art
10. Poles

Chinese New Year Celebration

Chinese New Year Celebration

Drumming

Drumming

Chinese New Year Celebration

Chinese New Year Celebration [photo – Rajashree Talukdar]

Lion Dancers

Lion Dancers [photo – Rajashree Talukdar]

Lion Dancing

Lion Dancing [photo – Rajashree Talukdar]

The crowd

The crowd [photo – Rajashree Talukdar]

Happy Face

Happy Face

Happy Faces

Happy Faces

A little one in traditional dressing

A little one in traditional dressing

Another one with grandfather

Another one with grandfather

Martial Arts Skill Display

Martial Arts Skill Display

Martial Arts Skill Display

Martial Arts Skill Display

Lion on the benches

Lion on the benches

The lion on the benches

The lion on the benches

The lion on the poles

The lion on the poles

The performances ended around 11:30PM We thoroughly enjoyed all the performances and hope to come back to attend the celebrations next year 🙂

11 Comments

Corinne

Traveling to other places and experiencing big days, like this one, really is not only fun but shows you how people are in a non-daily way. I love it.

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Paul

Looks like they put on an awesome show, the atmosphere must have been great. What a great way to celebrate!

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Dom

I’m amazed India has only one Chinatown! Thought there would be a lot more than that. Your photos look great.

Reply
travelling chingrita

Honestly, I had no idea that India celebrated Chinese New Year to this extent. I knew about the Chinese population, but I guess it would be expected. I also didn’t know that they prayed to a Hindu Goddess.

I think it would amazing to spend Chinese New Year in somewhere that’s not the typical… I was in South America and totally forgot about it until my parents e-mailed me.. hah. Awesome experience in Calcutta! So glad I found this piece.

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