Christmas is a world popular festival which certainly demands a vacation. With Christmas approaching this weekend, most of you would surely be planning to pack your bags for a vacation with your loved ones. Usually, when we think of tourist destinations for Christmas, places like Goa, Mumbai or Delhi comes to our mind. But this time, let’s plan something out of the box and drag your mind and soul for some off-beat destinations for celebrating Christmas –
• Puducherry – Christmas with a French influence is all about the celebrations in Puducherry. The zealous celebrations in its churches at Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Church of the Assumption or at The Church of Our Lady of Good Health, add a truly spiritual touch to Christmas. The celebrations spread out to the beaches with families sitting out for post-Christmas dinners.
• Daman – A Union Territory of India, this city also has historical Portuguese connections and, therefore, has a unique way of celebrating Christmas. This otherwise quaint area suddenly becomes lively and bright with many cultural events( traditional Portuguese dance is performed) taking place at every nook and corner. The homes are lit up, special Christmas meals are prepared and people come out in vast numbers to attend the mass at its popular churches. The air of Daman gets filled with laughter, light, joy, song and dance during Christmas.
• Kasol – Kasol in Himachal Pradesh is a different world surrounded by green mountains. One can have a chance to celebrate ‘White Christmas’ if snowfall happens during Christmas. Not much of a crowded place, there is camping, bonfires, a variety of available cuisines and gala Christmas cultural events organised, that makes your Christmas a memory of ecstasy and fun.
• Shillong – This beautiful hill town in Meghalaya is a home to a sizable population of Christians and hence they celebrate Christmas on a grand scale by decorating houses, streets and churches. Special music programs with performances on Christmas songs along with traditional cuisines hits the right chords of Christmas celebrations.
• Kolkata – The silent and holy night is magical in “The City of Joy”. Kolkata’s Park Street revels on Jesus Christ’s birthday every year by organising Annual Kolkata Christmas Festival which features rock music and some lip-smacking food. A carnival-like celebration, the lights and sound along with some exotic food items such as cakes from Nahom and Flury’s, makes it all a place in Kolkata you would surely want to be at Christmas.
Christmas, the biggest feast of Catholics all over the world rejoice as the festival comes closer. There might not be as much oomph, glitters and shimmers here at these places, but the mood, the typical traditions, its nostalgic connection and spirits of this massive festival here will surely take you to a high. Christmas with a difference will create memories that will be forever etched in your heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment