Kolkata, known as the City of Joy, is full of colour. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has, in fact, taken up the beautification of the city’s infrastructure so seriously that all the flyovers are painted white-and-blue. The inspiration comes from Didi’s signature white sari with blue border, if you go by the word on the streets. However, when you set out to explore the city, you see a lot more than the uniform white-and-blue.

Here are glimpses of the city in different shades of red: Mallick Ghat Flower Market, College Street, New Market and Kumartuli. Situated near one end of the Howrah Bridge, the Mallick Ghat Flower Market is a wholesale market, where sellers arrive with truckloads of flowers early in the morning. Kumartuli is a potters’ colony in north Kolkata, which, come Durga Puja, bursts into activity as idols are made in every lane, nook and cranny here. New Market is part of the colonial heritage of Kolkata. Established to cater to the city’s British residents, it now houses shops that sell everything from saris to jewellery to bakery items. College Street, named after the colleges and universities in the vicinity, is an area that’s a favourite with students, bibliophiles and camera-toting tourists alike.

Garima Gargis a Delhi-based photojournalist

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