Alleys and houses adorned with glistening lights, shimmering decorative pieces hanging in trees, beautiful nativity scenes and bakeries overflowing with the sweet aroma of freshly baked cakes- Christmas in India is celebrated with equal gusto and passion like the rest of the world. There are many places in India where you can enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Each place has added its own unique charm and flavour to Christmas celebration. Here are a few places where you can drown yourself in the Yuletide spirit:
1.Goa
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Famous for its sun-kissed beaches and colourful nightlife, this former Portuguese colony gets decked up during the Christmas week. During this time of the year, you’ll find the
- Catholic population busy preparing sweetmeats and other delicacies for Christmas.
- The air in Goa smells of fruit cakes, dodol ( sweets prepared from cashew and coconut), and Neureos (fried coconut dumplings).
- The local Church premises are decorated with glittering lights. Christmas star, charming nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus adorn every Church premises in Goa.
Enjoy the local Christmas flavour by attending a service in any of the churches in Goa. You can also visit the Se Cathedral or Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina in Old Goa.
2.Pondicherry
Soak yourself in the magnificent French flavours of Christmas in India’s Little France- Pondicherry. With a rich French colonial heritage, Christmas is celebrated in Pondicherry with great zeal.
- The Churches here has a rich Gothic architecture and during the Christmas week, they are festooned with stunning decorations.
- You can visit churches such as Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges (The Church of Our Lady of Angels).
- The pristine beaches, palm-lined shores and exquisite French cuisine will make your Christmas week an unforgettable experience.
3.Kolkata
This former Capital of the British India has a rich history of Christmas celebrations. During the British Raj, celebrating Christmas was a grand affair.
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Lavish dinners complete with turkey, puddings, wine and ball dance were the most striking characteristics of Christmas week celebration during the Raj. The then Calcutta still holds on to its colonial charm and celebrates Burra Din with great enthusiasm. You can attend the midnight mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral or watch the Park Street brimming with lights. A bite of the plum cake at bakeries such as Flury’s and Nahoum’s will take you back down the memory lane.
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Lavish dinners complete with turkey, puddings, wine and ball dance were the most striking characteristics of Christmas week celebration during the Raj. The then Calcutta still holds on to its colonial charm and celebrates Burra Din with great enthusiasm. You can attend the midnight mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral or watch the Park Street brimming with lights. A bite of the plum cake at bakeries such as Flury’s and Nahoum’s will take you back down the memory lane.
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