While some members have been busy practising their dance moves, others are going through the finer details of the attire that everybody will be wearing at the carnival.
The carnival is expected to be attended by members of the consular corps, tourists, members of the armed forces, senior civil servants and members of the business community.
The Red Road carnival started in 2016 and the number of participating pujas has only grown every year.
Some of the popular pujas that will participate are Sreebhumi Sporting, Mohammad Ali Sporting, Chetla Agrani, Suruchi Sangha, Hatibagan Sarbojanin, Samaj Sebi, Ballygunge Cultural Association and Tala Prattoy.
“Our preparations for the Red Road carnival are complete. We will be presenting a small dance performance at the carnival,” said Sanjay Majumdar, secretary of the Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin.
Members of Mohammad Ali Park puja have been busy preparing since Dashami.
“We will be decorating the tableaux and members will be presenting a small cultural snippet,” said Sourabh Banerjee, secretary of Jorabagan Sarbojanin Puja Committee.
“Our members have been busy practising for the cultural performance for the Red Road carnival,” said Arijit Roy, executive member of Chetla Agrani.
Drones and action cameras will be used to film the entire show that will be beamed live across social media networks. Big screens will be set up at various points across the city for people to watch the carnival. “There will also be aerial shots of the carnival. People can also watch the live transmission on social media,” said an official.
Florence Ferret (57), a tourist from Switzerland, was seen eagerly observing the last-minute rituals before the immersion of idols at Babughat. Ferret told TOI: “This is my second visit to Kolkata. It was an amazing experience to have witnessed the Durga Puja festivities and I am even more excited to be a part of the Durga Puja carnival.”
Puja committees have been given two minutes each to perform on the Red Road before the VIP enclosure on Friday.
Suruchi Sangha will put up a dance recital with 100 participants while the trailer carrying the idol will also showcase its theme of different cultures from various districts of Bengal. “The dance performance will happen with the theme song written and composed by CM Mamata Banerjee,” said Swaroop Biswas of Suruchi Sangha.
“We will not be taking the idol as it will be washed down with a water jet. Instead, we will take a fibreglass replica along with props from the pandal,” said Dhrubojyoti Bose Suvo of Tala Prattoy.
A 16-member group will dance to the soulful rendition of Jago Durga Dashapraharanadharinee for Chetla Agrani.
“This year, we had intended to create something that leads to a sense of wonder and joy for kids. We will try to do the same through the short performance at the carnival,” said Dibyendu Goswami of Sreebhumi.
(Inputs from Ritobhash Mukherjee, Ayona De Dhara)
