India is world-famous for its festivals such as Holi where the country is dyed in color or Diwali, where the whole nation is filled with light...but little is known about Christmas in this fascinating country.
Christianity is a minority religion in India,, comprising 2.5% of the population. But since we are talking about the most populated country in the world, this minority is equivalent to 28 million Christians. That said, you should already sense that Christmas is also celebrated and in a big way! And like any celebration in India, there is an overdose of joy, color and delicious food in the company of loved ones. In India, a melting pot of cultures and religions coexist but at Christmas, all of them unite and celebrate this date as a symbol of love, union and community..
Surely you are curious to know more about Christmas in India and you would like to discover how Indians celebrate it... start by getting in the mood with these carols in Hindi (their most spoken language) and when you've pressed PLAY... We start our Christmas Trip!
Christmas has arrived in India
December arrives, the energy is renewed and the Christmas season begins (in the West, Christmas starts to appear at the beginning of November, we are the society of haste...). Churches are decorated with thousands of lights and display their most beautiful nativity scenes. Choral groups prepare their voices to set the mood for the holidays by singing Christmas carols and trees (any kind) are suddenly dressed with stars, colorful balls and the brightest decorations you can imagine. Christmas markets are opening in the streets and parks and the kitchens are witness to the creation of new recipes to surprise guests at this time of the year.
In India Christmas Day is called "Bada Din". which means "Big Day" and Santa Claus is known as "Christmas Baba". In every home there are family gatherings around the table, where there is no lack of music, laughter, endless sweets and various delicacies. Surely their preparations are more spicy and spicy than the ones you will serve at your table, but apart from that, Christmas is not much different from ours.
Something that fascinates me about the Christmas season in India is the the sense of community that exists, whatever your religious beliefs. It is typical to visit the homes of neighbors, friends and relatives and treat them with sweets to spread the Christmas feeling to all homes.
Christmas tree in India is also inclusive
In a country so diverse and where so many cultures and religions coexist... inclusiveness is its most powerful mantra. And the Christmas tree is a faithful follower of that :). Although there are artificial fir trees, here most of these very Christmas trees are on postcards and native trees, such as banana trees, mango trees, and other native trees, take center stage or any support with a trunk and roots from which you can hang your colorful Christmas decorations. Let's toast to inclusion at all levels!
Christianity in India and Christmas in India
Christians are spread all over the country, but they are Mumbai is home to the largest Christian community. Kerala is the state with the largest population of Christians followed by Tamil Nadu, the Northeastern states and Goa (former Portuguese colony).
All these areas are home to hundreds of churches of the most diverse styles and great beauty. And as you might expect, at Christmas time they all dress up in their best clothes to celebrate the most important moment of the year. The nativity plays come to life and some are very Bollywood style :), a religious spectacle for the senses.
The soundtrack at this time of year is Christmas carols, and how beautiful they sound in their local languages. They are heard in the churches of the most prestigious choirs, in children's choirs in the streets and in small Soul concerts in the Christmas markets.
The most awaited moment in the churches is the Midnight Mass or Christmas Eve, where all the parishioners gather to celebrate the arrival of Jesus and to meet with the whole community in love and harmony.
Christmas food in India
Let's talk about the most delicious part of Christmas in India... its food! The highlight on the table during this time of the year is Christmas sweets, tradition originating in Goa and now present in every corner of the country. The overflowing trays of sweets combine traditional delicacies (present all year round) and special Christmas sweets. Plum pudding (the British left but the plum pudding stayed).The most popular dishes are the dried fruit cakes, cardamom cookies, Nevries (a crescent filled with dried fruits, coconut and semolina), Kul-Kuls (fried dough in the shape of a curl and dipped in sugar) and Guava candy (it has a texture similar to that of quince jelly).
On Christmas Eve it is typical to eat stuffed turkey (most tables serve chicken as it is more present in their cuisine and markets) as a main dish but all tables are decked out with succulent curries, rice and so on.
Where to celebrate Christmas in India?
If I had to choose my favorite place during the Christmas season, it would be without a doubt Kolkata. The feeling of Christmas in this city is very special and I lack the words to explain why.
Christmas in Kolkata
The celebration of Christmas in Kolkata is legendary and dates back to the 18th century.when it was still the headquarters of the East India Company. In Calcuta, now called Kolkata, Christmas is unique, no other Indian city is so decorated for this time of the year. The city center is illuminated with giant Christmas trees and huge Santa Claus monuments. People dance in the streets of Bow Barracks (the old Anglo-Indian area), there are open-air concerts, choirs, midnight mass, and the typical plum cakes sweeten the festivities.
If you are in Kolkata during Christmas you can't miss it the New Market and Lindsy Street where you can enjoy a stroll through the Christmas shopping paradise. You can find Christmas trees, their ornaments, a reindeer sleigh and all the Christmas delicacies such as turkey or the best ingredients for your cakes and puddings. Don't miss the Christmas sweets from the legendary Jewish bakery Nahoums.
Follow your route with a walk through Park Street and enjoy the magic of the city's most illuminated park during Christmas and its most succulent street food stalls. There are also open-air concerts with some of Calcutta's most famous musicians singing Christmas tunes and performances by the city's most famous choirs. On Christmas Eve I recommend attending Midnight Mass at St. Paul's Cathedral, a unique experience that will take your breath away.
Kolkata is my favorite place to celebrate Christmas but there are many others that are very special as well.
Christmas in Goa
If you want to celebrate Christmas on a beach, Goa is your destination whether you want a quiet or more active celebration.
Goa is home to about 400 churches and all of them celebrate the season with enthusiasm and many Christmas activities and events. I recommend visiting St. Catherine's Cathedral and listening to a caroling session there to soak up the Christmas feeling. You can also enjoy the fireworks at Arambol Beach. On New Year's Eve there is a very peculiar tradition... "The Burning of the Old Man". They create a fictitious man out of old clothes (like our bird scarer) and stuff him with foam or cloth creating a chubby character. They expose him to the town and then burn him as a symbol of leaving the old behind and starting the year with new energy. During the cremation the locals celebrate with Feni, the typical drink of Goa.
Goa is also known worldwide for its beach parties and during the Christmas season there is an extensive calendar of concerts and theme nights.
Christmas in Mumbai
Mumbai is beautiful at Christmas time with its decorations and exuberant lighting. I recommend getting lost in the Colaba Christmas market and sample the myriad of sweet and snack stalls. St. Thomas Cathedral (it has spectacular stained glass windows) is perfect if you want to enjoy the Midnight Mass.
The list of events in Mumbai is very long and for all tastes, but something special and unique at this time of the year is to stroll through its narrow streets and enjoy the Christmas spirit at every step in a city that never sleeps. And watching a Bollywood Christmas movie at the cinema is always a good plan!
How do you say Christmas greetings in Hindi?
In Hindi it is said "Christmas ki shubhkamnayein" and in Devanagari (their alphabet) it is written like this क्रिसमस की शुभकामनाएँ
I hope you enjoyed my article on the Christmas in India and you have discovered that this country has a lot to offer at all times of the year. And how do you celebrate Christmas? I read your comments!
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