As winter slowly gives way to spring in Kolkata, the first round of weddings is on, and so are outdoor concerts and parties. But though it’s considered the season for blooms and pleasant sunshine, unseasonal rains and high AQI levels over the past one week have sent outdoor activity plans for a toss. We speak to experts and event organisers on ways to deal with the unpredictable
weather
that has gripped this part of the country.
RAINS PLAY SPOILSPORT
Be it Shreya Ghosal’s concert, or the recent literary meet at Victoria Memorial, rain has been playing a spoilsport. Talking about how they had to stop a literary session midway due to a sudden downpour, Malvika Banerjee, director of the literary meet says, “In the past 12 years, we’ve never had to deal with bad weather, but on Day 2 this year it drizzled in the evening during Amitav Ghosh’s session. Though there was a shamiyana above the seating area, and enthusiasts still managed to buy books, we’ve learnt our lesson.”
Shreya Ghoshal at her recent concert in the city
“There should be a reserve day for big ticket shows to deal with unpredictable weather. They can also be insured to avoid losses” – Sambuddha Tito Dhar, concert organiser
IF NOT INDOORS, MOVE TOWARDS THE OUTSKIRTS
Entrepreneur and cultural
events
organiser Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, who is also an avid traveller, has noticed how difficult it gets for his friends from outside India to breathe when
outdoors
in the city. “I believe I’ve become accustomed to the pollution, but I can see the difference when people from other parts of the globe come here. As organisers of cultural events, I think, if not indoors, they can be conducted on the city outskirts where the AQI levels are lower. There’s nothing more important than one’s health, and events as such need to be enjoyed by elderly people and children alike without having to worry about health hazards,” he says.
INDOOR VENUES FOR WEDDINGS
Wedding and corporate event planner Manoj Kheria believes it’s better to avoid outdoor venues in the first place, up till August at least, and that one should keep an indoor option open for emergencies. “We recently had an open-terrace event being pushed indoors due to unforeseen rains in the Salt Lake area. The event was delayed by a few hours because the entire set up had to be moved indoors, but had we waited for the rain to stop, the event may have never happened,” Manoj says. Rajesh Raisinghani, CEO, Nicco Park Resorts Ltd, adds, “Most of our wedding clients these days are very particular about indoor events. Even if they host it outdoors, we have indoor spaces where the set up can be shifted in case of weather changes.”
Amitava Ghosh at a recent literary meet in the city. Ghosh’s session was interrupted by a sudden downpour
‘Responsible audience are as important as conscious organisers’
While it’s easy to blame the organisers, environmental activist Subhas Datta feels it’s equally important to be a responsible audience. “Be it as an organiser, or an attendee, one should not add fuel to the fire. Air-conditioning at indoor venues may feel comfortable, but it increases emissions. Similarly, loud music adds to air pollution and must be controlled,” says Subhas. Social entrepreneur Somini Sen Dua adds, “The city is expanding gradually, but not enough trees are being planted to balance it out. We’re to blame for the weather changes.”
“Though weddings can be shifted indoors, concerts cannot. Organisers usually take the forecast into consideration before planning a gig. Moreover, they are logistically equipped to deal with emergencies” – Rajesh Raisinghani
English (US) ·