A city’s growth and development are greatly influenced by its rivers, and Kolkata is no exception. The Hooghly River continues to support the city’s development as Eastern India’s commercial center. In recent months, the significance of Kolkata’s River Hooghly and the necessity of maintaining its ghats and riverbanks have grown.  Since 2019, the River Festival has organized several cultural events to draw visitors to the ghats and started work on Champatala Ghat’s renovation. Kult X organized a discussion on the Bengal Paddle as part of this year’s O Nodi Re: River Festival 2024, in collaboration with The Barge Company and Trisys, to bring together a variety of organizations that support riverfront revitalization.

The Special Panel Discussion was graced by Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS, Transport Secretary, Rishika Das Roy, The Barge Company, K Mohanchandran, Senior Vice President, Operations, Taj Hotels, Shubhodip Ghosh, Bengal Chamber of Commerce, Monica Khosla Bhargava, Architect, Kham Consultants, Laily Thompson, Organizer and Founder, Kult X along with other Consul Generals.

“O Nodi Re-River Festival ’24” showcases the next phase of riverbank heritage preservation in Kolkata. In 2024, this festival is scheduled to take place on February 7, 10, and 11. 

Everyone is invited to contribute significantly to maintaining and increasing the riverfront spaces’ cultural and historical relevance through this innovative program. It seeks to revive Kolkata’s link to its rich heritage by encouraging the community through the collective adoption of ghats along the meandering currents of the famous rivers. This project aims to create a peaceful future for our city in which everyone wearing a ghat will be a source of pride and shared responsibility.

They focus on transforming a specific section of the Hooghly riverbank, between Kumartuli Ghat and Ahiritola Ghat, into a thriving cultural center while preserving its original character.

The musical tale Kolkutta ki Jalkatha, dances by New Light and Ramyini, and songs by Rahul will all take place against the magical backdrop of Nather Bagan Ghat on February 10th, where Moloy Roy from Rajdanga Durga Puja will work his magic.

Additionally, on February 11, Suman Maity from Tala Prottay Durga Puja and the Kolkata illumination project will light up a variety of locally focused events that will transform the Princep Ghat pathway. An evening in the well-used ghat was rounded off with music by Baul and Bhatiali, a Salsa dancing extravaganza, art exhibitions, and chhau dance.

“We need our ghats to be clean all day, be accessible and safe, as well as provide a range of experiences to welcome people to the riverside.  We are aware that residents of Kolkata are hoping for significant improvements to our ghats. Adopt a Ghat is an initiative that everyone can participate in. Kolkatans can adopt ghats and take care of them by hosting events, inviting friends, and doing routine cleanups. Individual ghats can be painted, maintained, and repaired by corporations and business houses.  Together, let’s accomplish this and demonstrate our love for our city” aid Laily Thompson, the founder of Kult X.

The festival’s inaugural evening concluded with a significant contribution to the “Adopt a Ghat” campaign. Incorporating perspectives from a range of backgrounds sheds light on how crucial community involvement is to the preservation of the ghats. A feeling of purpose persisted as the evening came to an end, paving the way for a fresh commitment to the city’s rich cultural heritage through the Adopt a Ghat initiative.

Priyanka Dutta