Dragon Dances, Lanterns And Festive Feasts: A Guide To Chinese New Year Celebrations In Kolkata

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is fast approaching. In 2026, the festival welcomes the Year of the Fire Horse, bringing the Year of the Wood Snake — which began on January 29, 2025 — to a close. In Kolkata, it is also the time when India’s only surviving Chinatown springs to life in a blaze of colour, culture and community spirit.

Located in the eastern quarters of Tangra and Tiretta Bazaar in Kolkata, this historically significant enclave becomes the focal point of the celebrations. Here is a look at the calendar of events to attend.

This year, the Chinese New Year celebrations begin at midnight on February 16 and will continue for nearly a fortnight. Marking the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse, the festivities are steeped in symbolism, tradition, and community spirit.

The Customs

The Lunar New Year is observed through a vibrant array of customs — from energetic dragon and lion dances to elaborate cultural performances, including regal re-enactments. Red — the colour of prosperity and good fortune — dominates the celebrations. Homes and streets are decorated with red decorations, gifts are exchanged wrapped in red, and children receive red envelopes filled with money as a blessing for the year ahead.

In Kolkata, people also visit Achipur, the oldest Chinese settlement in India, to honour Tong Atchew, the first Chinese settler. Held annually in the weeks following the Lunar New Year, the community gathers at a temple dedicated to Tai Pak Kung (Earth God) to light incense, and offer food.

The Areas

What began as a trading relationship centuries ago has shaped the culinary and cultural identity of Kolkata. Today, members of the Kolkata Chinese community who have settled across the globe return home during this period, making it a time of reunion as much as festivity. The areas of Tiretta Bazaar and Tangra, home to Kolkata’s Chinese community since the eighteenth century, are the centre of the celebrations.

The Events

Here is a breakdown of the key events taking place in the city:

New Year’s Eve Celebration

• Date: February 16

• Time: 9 pm onwards

• Location: Chinese Kali Temple, Tangra

The celebrations begin around 9 pm and involve dragon and lion dances that wind through the crowds, warding off evil spirits. At the Chinese Kali temple, you will come across red lanterns and traditional prayers. Noodles are distributed as prasad here. Festive food stalls and drums keep the atmosphere lively well into the night.

Tiretta Bazaar New Year Celebration

• Date: February 17

• Time: 10 am onwards

• Location: Pou Chong Kim premises; Bow Barracks (4 pm onwards)

On February 17, you can head to Tiretta Bazaar, where the festivities will be hosted at 14/1 Chattawala Lane. Here you can sample traditional cuisine and cultural performances that reflect the heritage of Kolkata’s Chinese community. From 4 pm onwards, the celebrations will move to Bow Barracks, where a spirited dragon dance ushers in the New Year. This historic red-brick enclave in central Kolkata was originally built as army quarters during the First World War.

Tangra Second Day Celebration – Chai Chiang

• Date: February 18

• Time: 10 am onwards

• Location: Tangra Chinatown

The 2026 Chinese New Year celebrations continue on February 18 with Chai Chiang in Tangra. Beginning at 10 am, the festivities will feature high-energy lion dance performances welcoming the Year of the Horse. Dance troupes make their way through the neighbourhood, visiting local homes and businesses to bestow blessings of prosperity, good fortune and success for the year ahead.

Tangra Chinese New Year Carnival

• Date: February 19 and 20

• Time: 6 pm onwards

• Location: Pei May School, Tangra

On February 19 and 20, the venue is Pei May School in Tangra. The festival features lion and dragon dances, martial arts and tai chi performances by the local Chinese community, accompanied by firecrackers and resounding drumbeats. Red lanterns illuminate the streets, while an expansive food carnival showcases authentic Chinese fare, dumplings and festive specialities from Tangra’s famed eateries.

FAQs

When is Chinese New Year 2026?
Chinese New Year falls on February 17, 2026, with celebrations beginning at midnight on February 16.

Which zodiac year begins in 2026?
2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac.

Where are the celebrations held in Kolkata?
Festivities take place across Tangra and Tiretta Bazaar — Kolkata’s historic Chinatown — with key events at the Chinese Kali Temple, 14/1 Chattawala Lane, Bow Barracks and Pei May School.

Are the celebrations open to the public?
Yes, most events are community celebrations and open to visitors.

What can visitors expect?
Lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, traditional rituals, firecrackers and an array of authentic Chinese cuisine.