Deck The Halls Or Deck The Malls
GUWAHATI: With the festive season upon us and Christmas just around the corner, Guwahati is gearing up with decorated streets, lights, cuisine, and cheer. Amidst all the glee of the last festivity of the 2023 season, the question remains whether the people of the city are aware of the significance of Christmas or if it remains just another occasion for celebration.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people worldwide. On this day people visit churches and pay their reverence to the Lord. But, of late, the people in the city have been seen thronging the popular malls in Guwahati in the name of Christmas celebrations.
Guwahati witnessed the footfall of thousands of people at GS Road during Christmas in 2022, with people cramming malls to take pictures with the elaborate Christmas decorations or just chilling.
Whatever the case may be, hundreds of people be it residents and non-residents alike create severe traffic congestion throughout the city. This has made transport through certain parts of the city during that time, almost next to impossible. Such was the case that managing people and traffic became an arduous task, imposing on the city functions.
Torali Talukdar, a resident of Guwahati recounted last year’s Christmas experience and said, “We have seen huge crowds in cities like Kolkata and Bengaluru on Christmas Eve. But authorities there are also well equipped to handle the crowd as they make provisions in terms of crowd management and traffic flow. But Guwahati lacks that system. Last year we were stuck in GS Road for over an hour as people crowded the streets to visit a nearby mall.”
“If Guwahati is also stepping into the Christmas craze, the authorities should be well prepared for it,” she further added.
Another resident of Karimganj who has come down to Guwahati to experience the Christmas celebration said, “I saw the videos of Christmas in Guwahati last year, so I came down to Guwahati this year to experience the Christmas vibe.”
Talking to GPlus, DCP Traffic, Jayanta Sarathi Borah said, “This time, a traffic guideline will be released in the next two days which will help in the smoother flow of traffic.”
However, this year, it remains to be seen whether a proper sense will be instilled in the people of the city to dictate city and traffic proceedings, or will just be a repeat of the last year with impaled Christmas celebrations. Whatever the case, a proper management system needs to be in place for the supervision of the visitors and the proper flow of traffic. This has to be the prime agenda for the authorities pre-Christmas for a better festive season!
