Christmas festivities in Mumbai!

Life sized Santa

For the first time, I witnessed the festive frenzy in Mumbai, during this time of the year. Many stalls have been set up and have a variety of  Christmas decorations for sale.
Also, many of the hotels were all decorated to its glory!

A sneak peak into the festivities in Powai, Mumbai.

Hey Santa

Neatly packed decorations and shimmer

More to adore the Tree!

Jingles

Foldable Christmas trees.

Carol singing at Meluha, The Fern, Powai. I enjoyed singing along with them, a couple of carols.

The Christmas flower

White Christmas tree

Ready for celebrations!

The lighted Tree!

'We are celebrating the feast of the Eternal Birth which God has borne and never ceases to bear in all eternity...But if it takes not place in me, what avails it? Everything lies in this - that it should take place in me.
- Meister Eckhart, 13th century Christian mystic

True Christmas!

Time for gifts ! Beautifully painted on the exterior glass wall of Haiko Mall, Powai, Mumbai

Last week, my daughter came to me and asked me the true meaning of Christmas. I tried to explain to her the significance of the birth of Christ.
However she showed me a circular provided by her school which conveyed to me the true significance of Christmas (and was explained by her class teacher to the students), as follows:

'Christmas is a festival that celebrates the "gift of giving", a tradition, a culture, a human nature.'

The parents were requested to contribute goodies and useful articles generously for the orphan children and make someone's day 'a happy one with a smile'!

Merry Christmas!

Festive decoration at Haiko Mall, Powai, Mumbai

Christmas fervor in Japan

Last week, I happened to witness the Christmas decorations in Nagoya, Japan. December 25, is not an official holiday in Japan. However, the big commercial corporations do decorate their buildings and the surrounding areas. And there are celebrations around.... 

December 23 happens to be a national holiday in Japan as it is the current Emperor Akihito's birthday.

It is believed that Christmas was first celebrated in Japan since 1549 when Saint Francis Xavier visited Japan. Though the first recorded Christmas was a mass held by the Jesuit missionaries in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1552, in Japan.

Hello!

Santa's coming...

Grandeur..

Rudolf, the red nosed reindeer

Richly decorated Christmas tree

Silent night

Presents galore...

Lighted flowers

All things precious

All is bright!

The Japanese 'forget-the-year parties' called 'bonenkai'  are celebrated in December! 

Christmas fervor!

The Christmas season has set in! In Goa, the people have started decorating their houses and shopping for gifts.....
Many of the hotels and resorts which dot the coastline of Goa have already decorated their premises beautifully to celebrate Christmas and the tourist season! Here is a peek into some of the wonderful decorations at Taj Exotica located at Calwaddo in Benaulim, Goa. 

The decorated Christmas tree

A close peek - shell decoration

A sight to behold...

The beautiful crib

Ornamented decorations

Inside the crib

Flowery Christmas tree

Reaching for the stars....

Decorated roof

December is the best time to be in Goa! Be there!!

IFFI 2014

Welcome!

Many facets!

This year IFFI - International Film Festival of India was held from November 20 - 30. The venue state remains the same - Goa! It was held in the city of Panaji.

Enjoy the show...

Here are some glimpses of the IFFI festivities which I captured at the Dabolim airport itself, in Goa!

Welcome....

Indeed a refreshingly, cool way to welcome the tourists.....

A mini replica of the pillar at the famous Mangeshi temple