Dolly Chopra
Chandigarh, December 12
Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way! Are you also excited for Christmas?
Although Christians make up less than 5% of India’s population, Christmas is a significant religious occasion in India. You’ll be able to find traditional Christmas cheer in many parts of the country.
But you must be planning where to celebrate it. Here is the list where you can enjoy your Christmas eve with your family and friends.
Goa
Goa, with its large Catholic population, is one of the best places to have a traditional Christmas in India in Indian style! There are many beautiful old Portuguese-style churches where a lot of people come and cheer on Christmas. Christmas carols are sung and many of the churches hold Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Christmas decorations adorn houses, streets, and market places.
The Fontainhas Latin Quarter in Pajim is an outstanding place to enjoy Christmas celebrations. There’s a special Christmas feast and brass band.
Kolkata
Kolkata is also renowned for its Christmas celebrations. Park Street is beautifully illuminated with strings of lights and other decorations. Flurys bakes sumptuous Christmas cakes and their special Christmas menu offers a variety of Christmas treats. The Kolkata Christmas Festival, organized in conjunction with West Bengal Tourism, is an added attraction. It dominates Park Street with food and culture stalls, Christmas carols, and choirs. In 2019, the festival will be on from December 21-30. The highlight is a Christmas parade on Park Street.
Shimla
The queen of hills- Shimla where mostly tourists spend their Christmas. Some in thought of snow and some for enjoying a day at The Ridge, where Jesus and Mary church is located on the Mall Road. The whole ridge is decorated and covered with beautiful lights. For chilly Christmas, this place is best. And you can find the snow also on this day as per forecast.
Mumbai
Mumbai is another popular place to have a traditional Christmas. The western suburb of Bandra is predominantly Catholic, but you’ll also find churches all over the city. These Mumbai churches with Midnight Mass are the most well-known ones. Notably, Saint Thomas’s Cathedral celebrated its 300th anniversary on Christmas Day in 2018, and it was recently reopened after a full architectural restoration. Bandra’s Hill Road also wears a festive look full of Christmas decorations and bakeries overflow with Christmas goodies.
Delhi
In Delhi, the most popular Midnight Mass takes place at Sacred Heart Cathedral at Connaught Place. The whole Connaught Place area buzzes during Christmas, as well as the week leading up to it. There are Christmas decorations and lights, food stalls, and other street vendors.
Elsewhere in India
In addition, Christmas is widely celebrated by the substantial Christian population in India’s remote northeast region (head to Shillong in Meghalaya, Kohima in Nagaland, or Aizwal in Mizoram) and Kerala, as well as other south Indian cities such as Bangalore and Chennai. In North India- Chandigarh and many other places.
I hope you will enjoy your Christmas with fervour.