Kolkata's Iconic Howrah Bridge Lights Up To Celebrate Spirit Of Olympics

Kolkata's iconic Howrah bridge lit up in Olympic colours today to celebrate the spirit of games, being held in tough circumstances this year due to Covid-induced restrictions.

The iconic 78-year-old bridge, built over the Hooghly River, will be lit up in the evenings between July 20 to August 8.

The initiative was taken by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust, headquartered in Kolkata.

The bridge has been dressed up in the five olympic colours -- blue, black, green, red and yellow -- that keep changing in a choreographed manner.

The reflection of the lights in the waters of the Hooghly river flowing beneath add to the visual spectacle.

When the bridge was opened to public on 3 February, 1943, there were no lights or fanfare, as the 2nd world war was on, and blackouts were frequent for fear of air raids.

At a time the world is facing yet another war - against the virus, Howrah Bridge decked up for the Olympics does seem to stand in solidarity with that fight.

The rising virus cases in Tokyo have resulted in closure of all public viewing events. The country is under a state of emergency that mandates restaurants and bars to close by 8:00 pm -- when the opening ceremony begins -- and they are banned from serving alcohol.