Bangaloreans live it up in true yuletide spirit

Bangaloreans live it up in true yuletide spirit
Deccan herald

It was a time to be jolly in the City, as ‘Merry Christmas’ greetings reverberated across churches, family gatherings, shopping malls, parties, pubs and the streets of Bangalore. Decorated Christmas trees, wreaths and stars adorned Christian homes, celebrating the spirit of Christmas.

Private family get-togethers marked the festival but many Bangaloreans also lived it up on the streets and in the shopping malls. Shopping hubs like Commercial Street and Brigade Road were crowded with revellers and Brigade Road had loudspeakers playing carols at various intersections. Pavement sellers, going with the season’s spirit, sold Santa Claus masks, caps and beards. Cribs, depicting the manger where Christ was born, was placed not just at homes but even on the pavements in areas like Fraser Town, Cox Town and Ulsoor.

Malls and stores had celebrations packaged for customers. While Cookie Man organised a Christmas bash for children of Cheshire Home at the Garuda Mall, Oxford Bookstore organised a magic show for kids.

Prayers, friendship and acts of charity were the dominating themes of the day. Devouts flocked churches for prayers, carol singing, decorating the crib, enacting plays and bonding with the community. Chamrajpet-based Bosco Mane, an NGO working for the welfare of street children, threw a Christmas banquet for children at the Mane grounds, with games and gifts included.

“At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. He was born in a manger, and not in a palace. Today Jesus is born on the streets, in the slums.

Every child on the street reflects the face of Child Jesus,” Fr Edward, Executive Director of Bosco Mane said.