Highway to heaven: Kolkata welcomes Mother Durga with gorgeous 1-km long outdoor floor art

People across West Bengal observed today the auspicious occasion of Mahalaya, which heralds in Durga Puja. Mahalaya amavasya, which marks the end of 'pitripaksha' and beginning of 'devipaksha' is considered highly auspicious day for paying obeisance to one's ancestors.

The day began with the airing of the eight decade-old 'Mahisasura Mardini' programme over radio at the break of dawn. Later lakhs of people congregated at the banks of the Ganga and other rivers for 'Tarpan', which is paying obeisance to their forefathers.

And Kolkata woke up to the most gorgeous piece of street art which was touted as India’s longest alpana (a Bengali form of floor art).  Students worked on the gorgeous 1 KM long floor art at Lake Road near Rash Behari Avenue.

The alpana was made by Samaj Sebi Sangha, a popular community puja organiser and fashion retail brand Pantaloons – showing that capitalism has learnt to embrace tradition. While organisers have made huge alpanas in the past, this 1km floor art must be the longest one made yet.

Celebrities stepped in to give a hand and Prosenjit, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and even thespian Chandan Sen came out. The work on the aplana had started several days ago. Even the rain is unlikely to dampen enthusiasm as the aplana has been made with paint. 

#Kolkata getting into the Pujo mood already. Lake Road. See what college students did. Wow pic.twitter.com/iau2tEGMf4

— Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) September 19, 2017

Lake Road, Kolkata woke up to this wondrous sight.
That's how you welcome Maa Durga. pic.twitter.com/W2GHBJkaz2

— Lord Meow (@RanjibMazumder) September 19, 2017

Lake Road in #Kolkata being hand-painted by locals a week before the arrival of Goddess Durga. This, ladies & gents, is the City of Joy..twitter.com/OcgiYCufw6

— Sohini (@Mittermaniac) September 19, 2017

On The Road: Street Art from back home! Women drawing 'alpona' along Lake Road and why am I feeling homesick? pic.twitter.com/e9spfk5xaK

— Sharmila Bhowmick (@SharmilaBTOI) September 19, 2017

Aerial view... Lake Road... Rangoli... Spcly for Durgaa Puja.. pic.twitter.com/Ht8djtDvPg

— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) September 19, 2017