Merry Christmas...

Today Bangalore is a home to varied cultures, linguistic and regional backgrounds and with each festive season the city bounces back with zestfulness. The warm festive season of Christmas is celebrated by one and all in their own ways, not just the Christians for that matter. With the temperature falling and the city experiencing one of the coldest winters in recent days, its nice to see people with sweaters, jackets, pullovers, with ladies in their shawls, though the cold is not that intense as it is in Northern India or aboard that I have sensed.





For some Christmas means lots of shopping, for few it's just window shopping and then a cozy dinner, for few others it's a sip of coffee in the new high-toned and elegant coffee shop. There is brightness and luminance in the air and one can find people returning home with the bagfuls of goodies and plum cakes from the nearby store or getting ingredients to prepare the traditional Christmas cake at home.





In the traffic junctions one can find, small kids embroiling the bikers and those in cars to buy the Santa caps. This is one sight which I dislike intensely but come to think of it, it's all about survival. Most of these kids try to utilize, the festive season to make some extra bucks, so that they can have an extra share of piece meal.

The city is bedecked in colorful lights and sparkling Christmas trees. Santa is seen in departmental stores to entertain kid customers. Churches are decorated with poinsettias and lit with candles and lichi lights for Christmas Eve service. For a change, the ears are not tuned to the cronks and irritating honks from a traffic signal. One can see caroling processions on the busy streets and thoroughfares with the mild cold and buzzing wintry night, soothing the mind and heart of every passer-by.



I was most amazed by the buoyancy, the delicacy and the irrepressible liveliness and good spirit that rule the atmosphere. Everything appears simple, comforting and for a while, it appears there is something in the air that quickly put the darn things up.

I got this short message from Anou and want to share with piece with you all. It goes like this.

This Christmas...
On this Christmas…Pray,
To your enemy, forgiveness
To an opponent, tolerance
To a friend, your heart
To a customer, service
To all, charity
To every child, a good example
To yourself, respect.



Merry Christmas wishes to you.

Keep reading and remain connected.

(Took these pics, in the streets of the city, where I reside.)