Kolkata:
With the city all decked up and elaborate security arrangements in place, Kolkatans are all geared up to usher in Durga Puja - the five-day socio-cultural carnival that comes with the religious observance beginning on Saturday.
As before, city police have been gearing up to put in place elaborate security measures for the puja over the last three months. From putting up watch towers and check posts at strategically important spots to deploying a large number of security personnel in and around the marquees, they are walking the extra mile this year.
"We started preparing for Durga Puja and Eid three months ago. Initially, we focused on road repairing and barricading, then on crowd control and public assistance measures," city police chief RK Pachnanda said on the eve of the start of eastern India's biggest festival.
With 2,400 puja marquees spread across the city, the eastern metropolis will witness the influx of millions of pandal hoppers from the districts, and other states, and even some from abroad.
While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself met puja organisers to discuss security and safety measures, the city police accompanied by fire brigade officials made repeated visits to the pandals to ensure that security norms were followed.
The strength of the radio and high-radio flying squads and the quick response teams has been increased. The entire city will be under CCTV camera surveillance.
Baggage scanners have also been installed at Metro railway stations, while railway stations and long distance and local trains from the city will have additional security personnel on duty during the days of the puja.
The Metro would also be running additional trains for the pujas starting with Saptami (October 21) till Dashami (October 24).
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has carried out emergency repair and maintenance work on roads to fill up potholes and ensure that street lamps are functioning.
With colorful marquees spread across and glitzy light bulbs twinkling all around, the city is now adorned like a bride. Kolkatans are steeped in festivities, and the chief minister has been on a puja inauguration spree.
Stalwarts from various fields including politics, showbiz and sports have already been part of the puja frenzy, inaugurating various marquees.
While Ms Banerjee, with over 100 pujas, tops the list as the one attending the largest number of pandals or marquees, others doing the rounds as popular invitees include Bollywood actors Vidya Balan, Dia Mirza and Govinda as also former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman.
Governor MK Narayanan too has been inaugurating the pujas in different localities, and had done at least 20 pujas on Thursday alone.
Ms Banerjee, now a regular on social networking site Facebook, had posted a greeting card with the face of Goddess Durga drawn by her to wish the people. She also made her first Hindi post on the site, wishing people for Navratri.
With the state government declaring a 10-day holiday for its employees, and all educational institutions closed for the festival, Kolkatans are already out on the streets to soak in the mirth.