Kali Puja, Diwali celebrated across West Bengal

Kali puja and Diwali, festivals of lights, were celebrated with fun and frolic across West Bengal today, with people bursting crackers and exchanging sweets with family and friends. Devotees thronged Kali temples, including the famous ones at Kalighat, Dakshineswar and Tarapith, since early morning. People in large numbers were seen visiting Kali puja pandals, illuminated with dazzling lights in the evening.
Houses and shops were decked up with tiny coloured lamps, diyas and light-emitting fireworks came out in sky as dusk fell.

Large crowds were also seen before major community Kali puja pandals in areas like Amherst Street and Chetla in the city as well as at Barasat, Madhyamgram and Naihati in North 24-Parganas district. Police and fire brigade personnel across the city kept a vigilant eye on the festive proceedings, including the sale of banned firecrackers. Besides, opening special control rooms, both state and city police maintained a strict vigil to avert any untoward incident during the celebrations.

Incidentally, for the last several days the West Bengal Pollution Control Board has campaigned for creating awareness among common man against the usage of crackers polluting the environment.
WBPCB officials also monitored the city as well as the districts to keep a check on the usage of banned crackers.