Meri Christmas

26th December 2007

That’s not a blaring spelling error, but a common phrase used by Hindi speaking people in this part of the globe (India, Mumbai) while wishing their near and dear ones Merry Christmas. If you are still wondering what the word ‘Meri’ means. It means ‘Mine’ in Hindi.

This probably explains why Christmas has grown to become popular among the non-catholic communities in this part of the globe, India. Christmas is celebrated throughout India with same zest and zeal with which it is celebrated in the other parts of the world having Christian majority. Christmas touches the young and old together. There is a mood of brotherhood and revelry throughout.

Till some days back, there was no sign of Christmas and festivities in Mumbai. In fact, I remember I had written to a friend in the US stating that there is not much celebration for Christmas this year. But, by the weekend the entire city of Mumbai transformed into a celebratory mode. Shops were lit with Christmas trees. The newsprints were flooded with offers. The malls donned a brilliant stunning look. Center One, a fast growing mall in Vashi erected a huge Chritsmas of around 20 feet and decorated its entire premises with jazzy lights and stars that gave a very special feel to the entire ambience. There were Santas everywhere and school children were walking out wearing Red hats. The whole atmosphere was magical.

“There is a feeling of peace and tranquility. No loud noises; just melodious carols ringing in the ears. This is what makes this festival truly different,” comments an elderly lady walking out of the mid night mass. “What we like the best is that we receive plenty of gifts, and Santa Claus,” adds Stephen, her grandson. When asked how they are going to celebrate Christmas, Mrs D’souza answers with excitement, “My elder son, daughter-in-law and grand child have come down after years. Besides, them I have few relatives and close friends coming in. We will have a quite get-together and intend to spend the day together.” “The celebrations are not just restricted to Christians and Catholics. Not all people attending the Midnight Mass are Christians. Many people attend these masses because they enjoy it,” answers Sandeep, an enthusiastic teenager when asked why he attends the mass. “In fact, today you find many non Christian homes having a Christmas tree, balconies lit up with star of Bethlehem, and offering charities,” he further adds.

India is a cauldron of different religions and ethnic groups like Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddists and Jews. Further there are Goan Christians, Mangalorean Christians, East Indians or Keralite Christians. Everyone wants to add a dash of their culture and traditions to the celebrations. This gives this festival a very multifarious feel, yet making it one’s very own.

There is one community of Bengali Catholics in Mumbai who have migrated some 25 to 30 years back. Today there are 4,500 or more such Catholics living throughout India along with Assamesse and Manipuri Catholics. A few families reside in Kalina, Santacruz in Mumbai. These families have added a distinct local flavour to the Christmas celebrations. They use their local Kokata jaggery in the preparation of sweets which gives it a distinct flavour. They distribute these sweets among their neighbours during Christmas and it has become an integral part of the celebrations. In fact, their neighbours eagerly wait for Christmas to dig into these sweets. The Kolkata jaggery used is much tastier than the local jaggery and has slowly begun to be used in sweets prepared by others too.

Social messages have become an integral part of the Christmas celebrations. Around 1000 Catholic families in Vasai held an unique community exhibition to celebrate Christmas. They have created a Rs 50,000 al-fresco crib on a local pond to draw attention of the youths towards concerning issues like: AIDS, old age neglect, young widows, abortion & alcoholism. Another group of young Jain men, dressed as Santa Claus’s, dropped into the Home of Aged in Andheri and spent time with people in the old age home. One of the popular malls towards the town erected a huge stocking where people can deposit gifts. These will later be distributed among various underprivileged children.


In fact, the revelries are not restricted to the rich only. Christmas also brings in loads of smiles on the faces of street children. Celebrities too have been in the forefront in spreading joy among the underprivileged. Many Bollywood stars spent considerable time among children from the orphanages and basked in the warmth of their smiles. A great number of social institutions organized Christmas parties in orphanages for underprivileged children, distributed gifts and spent time with them, making this festival special for them.

Christmas also brings a wave of joy among street urchins selling flowers and other miscellaneous goodies at the signals and near railway stations. Car owners who generally raised their car glasses to keep away these children at the signals, for once, lowered their car glasses to buy Santa caps and masks. “We generally made paltry sum selling flowers everyday. But, during Christmas our business is flourishing. We sold 50 masks in just two days. My parents are overjoyed and there is a happy feeling back home,” exclaims a young girl selling masks and caps at the signal.

The other trend that has emerged this Christmas is Ms Santa Claus or Santarina. Young girls dressed as Santa Claus entertain children in 5 star hotels and malls. Many young women entrepreneurs are exploring this opportunity. The entire Santa get-up is conducive to keeping the identity of the person playing Santa Claus a complete secret. What initially began as teachers donning Santa’s costume to distribute gifts and sweets to school children has taken shape of a full-fledged profession. “We can handle children better. They generally do not shy away from us,” comments one of the women entrepreneurs playing Santa in a five star hotel. “Children too are more comfortable when they find a slender looking Santa before them,” adds another woman jokingly.

Even though the government has imposed many rules like no drinking and driving, it has not hampered the spirit of the festivities. Christmas successfully evokes the feeling of brotherhood and joy among the young and old; rich and poor. It is the feeling of doing something good to someone that helps it connect with the hearts of the people from diverse culture and ethnics. Everyone wants to add a shade of their culture and give Christmas their distinct feel. Despite blending with such myriads thoughts, traditions and feelings, what remains untouched is the core feeling of spreading joy and harmony. Perhaps this is the strongest reason why Christmas has become everyone’s while making everyone its very own. Christmas in the true sense of the word has become “Meri” for the entire world.