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Kolkata Celebrates Chinese New Year
Kolkata,
Feb
7:
Residents
of
Chinatown
in
Kolkata
today
celebrated
the
lunar
New
Year,
also
known
as
the
"Year
of
the
Rat",
with
fervour
and
gaiety.
A
majority
of
Chinese
live
in
Kolkata,
and
most
of
them
moved
to
West
Bengal
shortly
after
the
end
of
the
Second
World
War.
"I
am
coming
from
Canada
to
celebrate
the
Chinese
New
Year,
one
of
the
most
festive
and
most
lively
celebrations
in
Kolkata," said
Elsie
Lin,
a
Chinese.
For weeks, adults and children in Chinatown, known as Tangra, have been rehearsing dragon dances, putting up red flags and banners, and repainting the rows of houses, factories and restaurants that run along its winding and dirty streets.
"We go to temple and pray. We eat lot of things and buy new clothes in Chinese style," said Diana Lee, a Chinese child.
The Chinese New Year is the biggest festival in that country's calendar.
In the Chinese calendar, each year is represented by one of twelve animals from the Chinese zodiac. 2008 is the Year of the Rat. Shops are full of cute golden-modeled rats, ranging from miniatures to life-sized charms and statues.
Most have big smiles, long tails and bulging tummies. Even Mickey Mouse gold charms are being featured, as a creature somewhat related to the rat.
The festival's many customs, observed by millions of Chinese communities around the globe, link back to the idea of inviting good fortune and prosperity, and chasing away bad luck.
Red lanterns are traditionally lit on the last day of the New Year festivities.
Many migrants who left Kolkata for Bangalore and Toronto in Canada, have already returned to welcome the Year of the Rat.
Chinatown in the state is home to many Chinese but the younger generations are moving out of India for education and in search of jobs.
Unofficial estimates put the number of Chinese in Kolkata anywhere from 5,000 to 200,000 A majority are engaged in business with a major segment involved in the manufacturing and trade of leather products. A sizeable number are also owners and workers in Chinese restaurants.
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