Kolkata

Listen. Can you hear a happy sound? It's my trams, ding-ding-ding. Can you smell something yummy and sweet? Yellow taxis zoom by like little sunbeams on wheels. I am a big, busy place right next to a long, wiggly river. I am full of happy sounds, wonderful smells, and amazing things to see. My name is Kolkata, and people call me the City of Joy.

I was not always so big. A long, long time ago, I was just a few sleepy villages. Then, one sunny day on August 24th, 1690, a man from a faraway land named Job Charnock came to visit. He thought I was a perfect place for big ships to bring nice things like colorful cloth. So, I started to grow bigger and bigger, like a flower reaching for the sun. New buildings stood up tall. Much later, in the year 1943, a giant steel bridge was built to stretch over my river. It is big and strong, like a friendly giant holding hands across the water.

Today, I am a city full of happy songs, wonderful stories, and beautiful pictures. My trams still roll down my streets, and every year, I have a big, happy party with bright lights. It is called Durga Puja. It is a time for families to be together and celebrate. I love being a home for so many friends and their happy dreams. My heart is full of joy, and I am always ready to share it with you.