The yearly Durga Puja carnival conceived by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to showcase before the world the grandest festivities of Bengal tended to gain in popularity with thousands of cheering spectators including foreign dignitaries and hundreds of international tourists on Tuesday turning out to witness the grand extravaganza.
Seventy-five Puja-organising clubs of Kolkata took part in the grand carnival parading down the historic Red Road a la the Republic
Day Parade of Delhi putting a brief display before the world of their abstract Durga Puja themes that drew more than 20-25 million people over the preceding one week of festivities.