(Taxi)
(Santa Claus)
Christmas is usually spoken of as a Christian festival. In Kolkata, however, it has long belonged to everyone. Over the years, the celebration has grown into something larger and warmer, shaped by shared habits, familiar streets, and the simple pleasure of being together. The city welcomes Christmas not as a marker of faith alone, but as a season of closeness that draws people from every religion and background into its fold.
In a narrow lane off Collin Street, Firdaus, a Muslim woman, spends her days before Christmas sitting with her family in their one room home, making Santa Claus figures by hand. The work is modest and repetitive, but it matters. As she says, it brings in a little extra money for the family at a time when expenses tend to rise. It is the sort of seasonal work that has quietly sustained many households in the city for decades, passed down not as tradition, but as necessity. (Santa Claus)
Photo story: Christmas Market at Marienplatz
On Marquis Street, the signs of Christmas are impossible to miss. The road slowly fills with red, green, and gold, much as it has every year for as long as most people can remember. At the centre of this familiar scene is Chang, an 87 year old Chinese resident of Kolkata. One of the few remaining members of the city’s old Chinese community, Chang has been making Santa Clauses, Christmas trees, and decorations by hand for decades.
“For me, this isn’t just business,” he says. “It’s part of who we are.” Chang grew up watching Marquis Street prepare for Christmas, and he never really left that world behind. Even now, his hands move with the ease of long practice, shaping objects that carry more memory than novelty. As Christmas draws near, his work brings quiet smiles to passersby, and reminds the city of an older, gentler festive rhythm that still lingers, if one knows where to look.
When we think of candles, our minds instinctively turn to Diwali. Yet, adding a gentle twist to that familiar image, professional candle artist Tuhin has introduced a range of candles this winter inspired by Christmas décor. From the narrow lanes and bylanes of Ahiritola, Tuhin crafts these enchanting, Christmas-themed candles by hand, turning a quiet corner of the city into a small workshop of festive wonder.
He has been engaged in photographing everyday public life and creating documentary images. His camera has captured festivals as well as visuals related to various important news events. He is currently working as a photographer with Noor Photo Agency and is active in Kolkata as a photojournalist.
