A lovely thing about Cal is that there are small/medium/large parks and 'maats' in every locality or paada as it is called. These are maintained quite well (I'm not too sure by whom). The residents of a paada are quite proud of their park and 'maat'. The parks have the usual swing, slide, see-saw, and maybe a merry-go-round. The grass is kept cut and the plants and trees have a groomed look. There may be a water body or a fountain too. There are benches placed conveniently around the park. The 'maat' is a grassy piece of land. Again, this varies from small or medium size to something as large as a football field. Calcuttans are mad about football, and the love affair with football starts very early on in life.
Mind you, all around the park and 'maat' there are high rises, but these patches of green are not touched. In fact the residents are very proud of their parks and 'maats'. Pujas and other functions are organized here and this is the place for general get-togethers of the residents of the paada. You'll find the elderly taking their morning and evening constitutionals, and kids swarming all over in the evenings and on weekends.
Going around, you also see ponds which, sadly and very unfortunately, have been neglected. Consequently they have become garbage dumps and the stagnant water is a breeding ground for all kinds of illnesses. Some ponds, though, are maintained quite well by the residents of that locality. One sees benches, and plants around the pond. Some of them have steps leading down to the water...
Of course there is the huge maidan...the glorious, beautiful maidan...
It is these pockets of space that make Calcutta seem vast and spread out and open...
