يحاول ذهب - حر

WHEN FESTIVALS HOP OVER RELIGIOUS LINES

December 23, 2024

|

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

HAPPY Christmas in advance, dear readers. Besides feasting on fruit-rich Christmas cake, pears and cherries made of marzipan and hot cocoa, one of our childhood rituals was to reread our favourite Christmas stories in the holidays.

- RENUKA NARAYANAN

APPY Christmas in advance, dear readers. Besides feasting on fruit-rich Christmas cake, pears and cherries made of marzipan and hot cocoa, one of our childhood rituals was to reread our favourite Christmas stories in the holidays. Be it Enid Blyton or Agatha Christie, we found that few popular writers could resist telling a Christmas story.

The bottom line is that you may be allergic to rude and intrusive evangelists, but what's not to love about Jesus? My grandmother had a small European art picture of Mother Mary holding baby Jesus in her puja room. My mother, a staunch Hindu, gave me Bible stories to read along with other storybooks, and one day she pointed out that 'the poor are at the heart of the gospel'.

I loved singing carols and hymns so much that I still remember them from childhood. My maami used to play the piano and threw a Christmas party every year so we could gather around and sing while she played. I even mugged up the Paternoster or Our Father prayer in Latin because I found it beautiful. India, that way, is like a great big box of chocolates for us that we are free to participate in and enjoy different traditions without fear.

Out North, Christmas has long become a Hindu festival. Santa hats, Christmas trees, star-shaped paper lamps, and Christmas cakes are hugely popular with Hindu families. It does not make them 'less Hindu'. Hindus enjoy any festival with an endearing basis and charming traditions, be it Christmas or Valentine's Day.

المزيد من القصص من The New Indian Express Mangaluru

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

PM, NETANYAHU TALK GAZA PEACE EFFORTS

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on phone, who briefed him on the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan, as the two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to combating terrorism and strengthening the India-Israel strategic partnership.

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

UP Oppn preps local units to enrol voters in poll rolls

AFTER 2.89 crore voters or 18.70% of the electorate were deleted from UP’s rolls under SIR, political parties have deployed their office-bearers to get names of eligible voters added to the final list which will be out on March 6.

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

BJP ready with massive rejig plan as Nabin seeks to bring in young faces

WITH the appointment of the youngest working national president, Nitin Nabin, aged about 45, a position never held by someone so young in the party earlier, the BJP is likely to make several key organisational changes between mid-January and February, both at the national level and across some state units, to make the organisational system more effective and streamlined for future challenges.

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

US mission warns students of stern action, says 'visa a privilege, not right'

THE US embassy in India has issued a stern warning to international students, cautioning that violations of US laws could result in visa revocation, deportation, and future ineligibility for American visas.

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

X reply on Grok dirt 'inadequate'

THE Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is learnt to have found the response from X to its advisory over the spread of obscene and sexual content on its social media platform inadequate.

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

Russell hat-trick as HIL GC tame Shrachi Bengal Tigers

Hockey India League’s (HIL) Governing Council (GC) team won a high-scoring thriller against defending champions Shrachi Bengal Tigers 6-3, while last year’s runners-up Hyderabad Toofans rallied to beat Ranchi Royals 3-2 in the Hockey India League at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Sunday.

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

Vaishno Devi med college closure cheers BJP, NC calls it communal

FOUR days after inspecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Tuesday withdrew its recognition, triggering contrasting political reactions across Jammu and Kashmir.

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

Have to highlight stories in right way to lift doubles format: Woodbridge

WHEN top singles pros formed pairs to play in exhibition mixed doubles tie in the US Open last year, fans flocked to the stands and made it a full-house.

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

TN NEEDS MORE REVENUES TO FUND PENSION SCHEME

Na politically sensitive pre-election move, the DMK government has announced the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS), covering nearly 6.25 lakh state government employees.

time to read

1 mins

January 08, 2026

The New Indian Express Mangaluru

Shreyanka ready to roar for RCB again

THE last time Shreyanka Patil took the field for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she won them their first WPL title, taking 4/12 in the final against Delhi Capitals.

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size