Christmas Celebration In India

Hearty cries of Merry Christmas ring throughout India on 25th December

. With Christian converts being scattered across the breadth of the country, the celebrations are painted in regional colours gloriously reflecting unity in diversity. Celebratory zeal and spirit remain unchanged, while rituals and traditions associated with the festival may show a stark contrast. The spirit of Christmas definitely comes alive. In fact, Christmas is affectionately called big day or Bada Din in local parlance.

Goa, with its Portuguese heritage and a high number of native Roman Catholics as well as overseas visitors celebrates Christmas in a manner similar to the Western world. Churches, cathedrals and homes are colourfully adorned with Poinsettia flowers. Even cribs are prepared for the baby Jesus. An overflowing tide of humanity lines up for the midnight mass, which is followed by an exchange of Christmas gifts and hearty feasting. Pleasing sounds of Christmas carols sung by children pierce the air. Restaurants, beaches and hotels brim with revelry.

Similarly, Christmas in Mumbai is a very happening time. A sizeable presence of Christians ensures that the city has its share of Christmas fun. Most homes create a nativity scene and a manger adorns the front window. Gigantic paper lanterns are shaped like stars and strung out between homes. This creates an image of floating stars for onlookers down below.

During Christmas, the Seven Sister States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura in the North East burst into delightful frenzy. Especially, celebrations among the Christian tribal communities of Nagaland are absolutely unique. The entire month of December is spent in festivity. On 25th December, circuses and Christmas carnivals electrify the day, while feasting and further merrymaking colour the night.

In the plains, mango and banana trees are decked up instead of pines. Many people light up the night with the soft glow of small oil burning clay lamps. The Christmas turkey or geese of the West is quite often replaced by curries and other regional delicacies of India. A Santa Claus distributes candies to children in the malls, super markets, restaurants, and other public places.

The festival is an official national holiday in this secular country and is gaily celebrated by the fun loving Christians and non-Christians alike. A noticeably sharp spurt in the flights to India during Christmas bears testimony to the fact that this occasion is a great time to plan your India travel.

by: Jack Olivor

POST COMMENT

Experience Victoria Falls Through Cheap Flights To Zimbabwe Aviation - How To Succeed - Part 4 Purchase Cheap Air Tickets On Yatra Offers Tips To Get Cheap Air Fares Airlines To Amsterdam Amazing Cruise Vacations: How To Choose Your Destination Aviation - How To Succeed - Part 5 Book Domestic Air Tickets India Online Book Cheapest Air Ticket India Unbelievable Deals On Mumbai Lucknow Flights Get Desirable Domestic Fare From Mumbai To Lucknow Vacations To Europe Get Cheap Airline Prices Online