Kolkata, October 13, 2013: Cyclone Phailin failed to scare away Durga Puja revellers who stepped out of their homes early in the day to beat the scheduled land fall of the storm.

As forecast by the Met office, rainclouds are hovering above the city which is experiencing a persistent drizzle. However, enthusiasts have tried to stay a step ahead of the monstrous cyclone by finishing their rounds of the puja pandals before the cyclone makes its impact.

People came in droves to take in the pomp and the splendour of the big community pujas here — usually seen in the evenings but was witnessed in early afternoon hours as decked in their new clothes, the able and the infirm, the old and the young, stepped into the city to move around the various puja pandals with their umbrellas in tow.

The second day of the pujas — Ashtami — is when the crowd peaks and this year was hardly different as the indomitable festive spirit soared above any feeling of panic or fear due to Phailin, as revellers were emboldened by forecasts that the storm would not hit the city in its full fury.

Source: The Hindu, October 13, 2013