Kalpataru Mela in Durgapur.

Kalpataru Mela in Durgapur.

                City people are all now in a festive mood. Almost in every weekend they are making some programme either for a picnic or for an outing with their family and friends and to be frank now they have an unending list of such places surrounding this city. A stroll across this city during the winter unfurls a vivid and lively view of the above mentioned phenomenal practice almost daily. Thus it is seem that almost all the parks are remaining crowded with people of all ages.

                Besides such picnic and outing people enjoyed a lot on the renowned melas like Shantiniketan, Bishnupur a few days ago and after that the people became gladdened again for the famous Kalpataru Mela which starts every year from the first day of the year. It is held in the Gammon Friends’ ground near Durgapur Station adjacent to DPL Colony. It starts from 1^st January and continues up to 10^th. Probably this is the oldest fair held in the still city and almost crowds of people from Asansol, Raniganj, Andal, Ukhra, Panagarh, Burdwan and another adjoining places enjoy a lot here.

                Book fair and Agricultural fair (Krishi Mela) is the prime attraction of Kalpataru Mela. From the last year the organizers are paying special attention to attract much people in the Book Fair. The renowned publishers of Kolkata arrange several stalls with their latest publications, books of Knowledge, Story, Fiction, Devotional, Recitation and some rare books that are not available in market easily. School children eagerly wait for this fair to have their choiceable books. Moreover the organizers arrange in the lawn of the book fair several competitions like Recitation, Quiz, News Reading to attract the school children much.

                Agricultural fare is also very attractive in the fair. Not only the agriculturist join the fair but a large section of people who have a passion for gardening hops the stalls inquisitively for rare kinds of flower and fruit seeds and plants. The another attraction of this krishi mela is that almost daily some experts in this field comes and they interacts with the people about their personal problem and advise what type of pesticides and manure to be applied for the full growth of the plants.

                Amalendu Sen, the sr. active organizer says, “Though Durgapur has developed in all the fields in the recent years, yet this particular fair has not lost its old charm. The mad rush witnessed at the fair is something extra ordinary in this era of shopping malls and large company showrooms. The large Gammon ground seems small at times when the crowds swell up and there seems to be no space even for walking.  Perhaps fair will never lose the charm and importance from our life.”

                The authority now has taken much precaution for fire fighting and security measure. They have installed close circuit TVs in several points and made a close vigil on the fairground to avoid any  untoward incidents.  

                They authority arranged every day various cultural programmes from afternoon to late night where the famous artist from Kolkata and other places performed their solo and group programme. Many people enjoyed this programme ignoring the chilled atmosphere.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.